Why Japan-China ties can benefit from promoting people-to-people exchanges
Sunday, May 3,2026,01:00
Japan and China are Asian powerhouses that should collaborate responsibly for the peace and prosperity of the region. However, bilateral relations have experienced ups and downs since the start of the century and are now at their lowest point after normalisation in 1972. A major cause of this is the widening perception and information gap between the two nations that needs to be addressed through direct people-to-people contact. Some, perhaps many, misunderstand that Japan and China are always... .. read more..
Indonesia’s aim to lure more K-pop concerts spurs chorus of doubts
Sunday, May 3,2026,00:00
When Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recently visited Seoul for a state visit, one of the most memorable moments was a photo that he took with a 19-year-old Indonesian K-pop idol. Nyoman Ayu Carmenita, better known as Carmen of the girl group Hearts2Hearts, symbolises Indonesia’s ascendancy in the K-pop universe: no longer just a vast market for the genre’s stars, with the country increasingly playing a part in the industry’s global growth. Foreign Minister Sugiono said on April 22 that... .. read more..
Oil prices fall after Iran sends updated peace proposal to mediators in Pakistan
Saturday, May 2,2026,15:13
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a U.S. president needs to withdraw troops 60 days after reporting their deployment to Congress .. read more..
Taiwan records 2nd hantavirus case this year: CDC
Saturday, May 2,2026,13:21
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) An elderly man with underlying health conditions in New Taipei tested positive for hantavirus in March, Taiwan's second case this year, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said Saturday. .. read more..
Tang Prize laureate Stephen Owen dies at 81
Saturday, May 2,2026,13:14
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) Stephen Owen, a renowned scholar of Chinese literature and a laureate of the 2018 Tang Prize in Sinology, died Friday in the United States at the age of 81, the Tang Prize Foundation said Saturday. .. read more..
Canadian MPs defiant over Chinese envoy's 'warning' on Taiwan
Saturday, May 2,2026,13:05
Vancouver, May 2 (CNA) A Chinese diplomat's warning against Canadian parliamentarians visiting Taiwan and Canadian naval vessels transiting the Taiwan Strait has sparked a backlash among Canadian lawmakers. .. read more..
Families hiring migrant caregivers rally for more support, lower fees
Saturday, May 2,2026,12:55
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) Families who hire migrant caregivers rallied in Taipei on Saturday to call for lower fees and stronger support for households reliant on those workers, as the Ministry of Labor (MOL) pledged to review care services and a migrant worker rights advocate warned against weakening worker protections. .. read more..
Taiwan's pioneering gay film opens Queer East Festival in U.K.
Saturday, May 2,2026,12:49
London, May 2 (CNA) "The Outsiders" (孽子), Taiwan's pioneering 1986 gay film, was screened in London on Friday as the opening film of the Queer East Festival. .. read more..
President Lai arrives in Eswatini
Saturday, May 2,2026,11:43
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced Saturday that he had arrived in Eswatini, after an earlier planned visit to Taiwan's sole African ally was suspended because of revoked overflight permits. .. read more..
Chinese participants absent as Asia Pride Games open in Kaohsiung
Saturday, May 2,2026,11:00
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) The 2026 Kaohsiung Asia Pride Games opened Friday without Chinese participants, following a dispute over entry procedures and allegations that some applicants submitted questionable materials or had party, government or military affiliations in China. .. read more..
Taiwan students claim major honors at VEX robotics championship
Saturday, May 2,2026,10:37
San Francisco, May 2 (CNA) Taiwanese students won several honors at the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship, which concluded Thursday in St. Louis, Missouri, including the Innovate Award, Create Award and Design Award. .. read more..
Taiwan opens trade and investment center in Phoenix
Saturday, May 2,2026,10:06
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) The Taiwan Trade and Investment Service Center opened Friday in Phoenix, Arizona, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said. .. read more..
S&P affirms Taiwan's AA+ rating, outlook stable
Saturday, May 2,2026,09:09
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Taiwan's "AA+" long-term and "A-1+" short-term issuer credit ratings, citing the country's strong external asset position, healthy fiscal conditions and monetary flexibility. .. read more..
CPC to keep gasoline, diesel prices unchanged next week
Saturday, May 2,2026,09:03
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) CPC Corp., Taiwan announced Saturday it will keep domestic gasoline and diesel prices unchanged next week to ease the impact of rising international crude oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East. .. read more..
Taiwanese short film 'Dua Ji' screens at San Francisco film festival
Saturday, May 2,2026,08:53
San Francisco, May 1 (CNA) Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Yu-han's (蔡渝涵) short film "Dua Ji" (大姊，賢慧) screened Friday at the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival as part of a shorts program focused on women's lives and responsibilities. .. read more..
How Trump is inadvertently bringing Japan, South Korea together
Saturday, May 2,2026,07:55
Japan and South Korea are closing ranks as they prepare for high-level meetings aimed at steadying ties amid growing regional volatility, with analysts saying the diplomatic push reflects shared concern over China, North Korea and the reliability of US commitments under President Donald Trump. Both countries appear willing to put past differences aside, at least for now, as they confront an assertive China and an unpredictable US administration that has unsettled long-standing allies and... .. read more..
Japan's LDP Youth Delegation visits Taiwan
Saturday, May 2,2026,06:20
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) A delegation from the Youth Division of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is visiting Taiwan from Saturday to Wednesday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). .. read more..
U.S. lawmakers propose China threat resolution ahead of Trump-Xi summit
Saturday, May 2,2026,05:48
Washington, May 1 (CNA) U.S. lawmakers across party lines on Friday introduced a resolution to express their concerns over China's threats toward Taiwan, with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as its stated focus, ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May. .. read more..
Hon Hai named one of the 100 most influential companies by Time
Saturday, May 2,2026,05:25
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. has been named one of the 100 most influential companies in 2026 by Time magazine, which described the Taiwan-based manufacturing giant "as one of the most important players in AI." .. read more..
Why India’s logistics pact with Russia signals its Arctic ‘footprint’ ambition
Saturday, May 2,2026,05:00
A pact between India and Russia on reciprocal access to military facilities is expected to boost Moscow’s influence in the Indian Ocean and increase New Delhi’s presence in the Arctic. However, it does not mean the two countries’ bases will be opened to each other’s armed forces as they step up defence cooperation, according to analysts. India and Russia signed the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) covering military exercises, training and humanitarian missions in Moscow in... .. read more..
Nvidia's China Exposure Back In Focus As Senator Coons Probes H200 Export Claims
Saturday, May 2,2026,04:59
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) has demanded answers from the Commerce Department after conflicting statements by Secretary Howard Lutnick and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA ) CEO Jensen Huang raised fresh concerns about whether advanced U.S. AI chips are reaching China . Senator Questions Commerce Department On H200 China Exports In a letter first reported by CNBC on Friday, Coons pressed Lutnick over comments made during an April 22 Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. During the hearing, the Commerce Secretary said the U.S. had not allowed Nvidia's H200 AI chips to be sold to Chinese firms. "We have not sold them any chips as of yet," Lutnick told lawmakers. That statement ap... .. read more..
U.S. coffee body defends 'Chinese Taipei' naming for Taiwan competitors
Saturday, May 2,2026,04:53
Los Angeles, May 1 (CNA) A U.S.-based coffee association that organizes the World Coffee Championships (WCC) said on Friday that its decision to change the designation of competitors from Taiwan as representing "Chinese Taipei" was in line with international conventions at sporting events. .. read more..
A year after corporal punishment ban, Thailand needs to curb resurgence
Saturday, May 2,2026,04:00
An old Thai proverb says, “If you love your cow, tie it up; if you love your child, beat them”. It is meant to convey that a loving and responsible guardian should discipline their child and that corporal punishment is an act of care as sensible as tethering one’s cattle so that it does not wander off. For many generations, this proverb and traditional practices have normalised corporal punishment. This attitude is also displayed by teachers in schools. One year after Thailand legally banned... .. read more..
Taiwan headline news
Saturday, May 2,2026,03:47
Taipei, May 2 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Saturday are as follows: .. read more..
Japan’s Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical mine...
Saturday, May 2,2026,03:24
Japan and Vietnam are set to agree to boost their partnership in economic security in leaders’ talks on Saturday, as Japan seeks to strengthen supply chains for critical resources amid its diplomatic spat with China and the Middle East crisis. As Tokyo looks to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations with an eye to China’s increasing economic engagement with the region, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will also give a speech on Japan’s updated vision for its free and open Indo-Pacific policy... .. read more..
Durian Express? New Southeast Asia rail service cuts fruit prices in China
Saturday, May 2,2026,02:00
Southeast Asian growers can now ship durians to China faster than before using a new cold-storage rail service linking Thailand, Laos and southwest China’s Yunnan province, slashing prices for the pungent fruit. The first goods train laden with durians from Thailand – China’s biggest source of the fruit – began winding its way north through Laos to China over the weekend, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday. More than 90 per cent of the world’s durian exports – worth about US$7.5 billion... .. read more..
Rapidly ageing Japan’s ‘macho carers’ lend muscles to benefit elderly, disabled
Saturday, May 2,2026,01:30
With his broad smile, Tatsumi Hokuto helps an elderly woman in a Japanese care home almost effortlessly to her feet and makes sure she is steady. At first glance, Hokuto cuts an unlikely figure for a carer role: a powerfully built 27-year-old in tight leggings and a black singlet, with the physique of a dedicated bodybuilder. But for Nagoya-based Visionary, a company that operates nursing and care facilities across Japan, that contrast is precisely the point. Visionary’s “macho carers” like... .. read more..
From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test
Saturday, May 2,2026,00:00
When Malaysia’s government announced a ban on two books in mid-April, the move raised eyebrows, with some questioning the intent of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration and his reformist credentials. The home affairs ministry on April 16 declared that the books – one of which was a memoir of the grandmother to an ally of Anwar – were a danger to national security for containing communist elements and ideologies. The decision triggered immediate pushback, predictably from civil society... .. read more..
Ukraine sees path to getting Japanese arms after Tokyo eases export rules
Friday, May 1,2026,13:40
Japan’s relaxation of its weapons-export rules opens a path for talks that could one day lead to Tokyo supplying military equipment to help Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion, Kyiv’s ambassador to Japan said. “This allows us to talk,” Yurii Lutovinov said in an interview at Ukraine’s embassy. “Theoretically, it’s a very big step forward.” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s move last week to ease export rules – Japan’s latest shift away from a strict post-war pacifist stance – has sparked broad... .. read more..
Woman detained in alleged mercy killing of bedridden sister in Tainan
Friday, May 1,2026,13:24
Tainan, May 1 (CNA) An 84-year-old Tainan woman has been detained by prosecutors for allegedly killing her 92-year-old bedridden sister, in what police described as a tragic case involving assisted euthanasia. .. read more..
'Be on Taiwan's side' on defense budget bill, Studeman tells KMT
Friday, May 1,2026,13:08
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Former U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) intelligence chief Michael Studeman on Friday called on lawmakers and leaders of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) to "be on Taiwan's side" and promptly move the Cabinet's NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.48 billion) supplementary defense budget bill forward. .. read more..
Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies
Friday, May 1,2026,12:58
Singapore and Thailand ranked among the world’s “least miserable” economies in an annual index compiled by a Johns Hopkins University economist, who said Southeast Asia was one of the “healthiest economic neighbourhoods” in the world. The 2025 Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI), compiled by applied economics professor Steve Hanke, measures the “economic temperature” of a country and seeks to approximate how its average citizen experiences the economy. This year’s HAMI found that several... .. read more..
4 killed in second Indonesia train crash in days
Friday, May 1,2026,12:55
A train hit a car in Indonesia on Friday, killing four people including two children, police said, days after another deadly train crash outside the capital Jakarta. The driver of the car involved in the collision in Central Java province did not see the oncoming train on a level crossing due to thick fog, local traffic officer Eko Ari Kisworo said in a statement issued by the police. The train then collided with the car, which carried nine people and was flung about 20m (66 ft) before hitting a... .. read more..
Magnitude 6.1 earthquake shakes northeastern Taiwan
Friday, May 1,2026,12:53
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Taiwan at 8:39 p.m. Friday, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). .. read more..
Tokyo man who attacked teens with hammer arrested after manhunt
Friday, May 1,2026,12:52
A man who is believed to have struck a 17-year-old high school student in the face with a hammer in Tokyo earlier this week was arrested on Friday after a manhunt on suspicion of attempted murder, according to local police. Teruyuki Takabayashi, 44, was apprehended in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture after allegedly attacking the boy between 7.15am and 7.25am on Wednesday in Fussa, a suburban area in western Tokyo. The boy was part of a group of seven teenagers hanging around a nearby restaurant at... .. read more..
Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures RiseAs Trump Administration ...
Friday, May 1,2026,12:41
(Editor’s note: The future prices of benchmark tracking ETFs, the lede, and the headline were updated in the story.) U.S. stock futures shed earlier losses to advance on Friday morning, following Thursday's record advances following mega-cap earnings. Meanwhile, the Donald Trump administration leveraged the three-week-old ceasefire to avoid a congressional 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution to withdraw troops from Iran. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.39%, and the two-year bond was at 3.89%. The CME Group's FedWatch tool ‘s projections show markets pricing a 94.8% likelihood of the Federal Reserve leaving the current interest rates unchang... .. read more..
XPeng April Deliveries Fall 11.5% Despite Monthly Uptick
Friday, May 1,2026,11:15
XPeng Inc. (NYSE: XPEV ) shares dipped Friday after the company reported April deliveries of 31,011 vehicles, up 13% month over month but down 11.5% year over year. Delivery And Demand Trends The company said customer engagement improved following the rollout of its Vision-Language-Action (VLA) 2.0 system in March, with test-drive satisfaction rising by the end of April. The average time to make purchase decisions after test drives declined 44.7% month over month, underscoring intelligent driving as a key sales driver. Product And Expansion XPeng also expanded its product and manufacturing footprint during the month. On April 15, the company unveiled the GX, its first full-sized flagship ... .. read more..
EVA Air eases eyewear, footwear rules for cabin crew
Friday, May 1,2026,11:01
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwanese airline EVA Airways (EVA Air) said Friday it has begun allowing cabin crew to wear framed glasses and comfortable black leather shoes on duty. .. read more..
Asian Stocks Start May On A Positive Note
Friday, May 1,2026,10:58
Asian bourses closed on a positive note on Friday tracking Wall Street's strong performance on Thursday. .. read more..
Berlin school teaches Taiwanese perspectives on death
Friday, May 1,2026,10:43
Berlin, May 1 (CNA) A Berlin high school is setting out to teach Taiwanese perspectives on life and death by incorporating literature and film from the island into its ethics and philosophy curriculum. .. read more..
Teachers call for reforms on 1st Labor Day holiday for educators
Friday, May 1,2026,10:31
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Education unions joined May Day rallies in Taipei and Kaohsiung to push for pension and pay reforms on Friday, as teachers were given Labor Day off as a national holiday for the first time. .. read more..
Deadly train crash in Indonesia exposes severe safety gaps, dangerous crossings
Friday, May 1,2026,10:16
A horrific train crash that killed 16 passengers on the outskirts of Jakarta has prompted Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to pledge 4 trillion rupiah (US$230 million) to overhaul level crossings across Java after officials identified one such intersection as a key point in the chain collision. The pledge targets one of the key weaknesses in Indonesia’s rail network: crossings that are unguarded, poorly maintained or haphazardly created by local communities. Transport analysts said the... .. read more..
NIO April Deliveries Jump 23% As ES8 Momentum Accelerates
Friday, May 1,2026,09:41
EV maker NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO ) shares fell Friday after the company reported April 2026 deliveries of 29,356 vehicles—up 22.8% year over year, but down 17.3% from March amid broader industry pressures. Delivery Growth Year-to-date deliveries rose 71.0% to 112,821 vehicles, reflecting sustained momentum in 2026, while cumulative deliveries reached 1,110,413 as of April 30, 2026. April volumes were driven primarily by the NIO brand, which contributed 19,024 vehicles, alongside 5,352 units from the family-oriented ONVO line and 4,980 units from the FIREFLY small high-end segment, highlighting the company's expanding multi-brand portfolio. Product Momentum On the product side, the All-Ne... .. read more..
Gold loses its shimmer in Asia over rising oil prices, hawkish Fed stance
Friday, May 1,2026,09:34
Asia’s gold rush is starting to lose some of its lustre, as surging oil prices due to the Iran war dampen rate-cut hopes that recently helped fuel one of the metal’s strongest rallies in years. A surge in energy costs has revived inflation concerns and made central banks less likely to cut rates, and this has made interest-bearing assets more attractive, according to analysts. Gold prices fell by 12 per cent from US$5,247.90 per troy ounce on February 27 to US$4,620 on Friday morning. The metal... .. read more..
Chinese student unable to enroll at NTU due to residency status: MAC
Friday, May 1,2026,08:33
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday that a Chinese student admitted to National Taiwan University (NTU) will be ineligible to enroll due to his residency status. .. read more..
KMT pressures lawmakers on defense bill, TPP undecided
Friday, May 1,2026,08:30
Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on Friday said a special defense budget bill sponsored by its caucus has a "binding political force" on its lawmakers, as the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) deliberates what stance to take on the issue. .. read more..
Trumpet call: Malaysians demand Japan return elephants after viral ‘weeping’ ...
Friday, May 1,2026,08:13
A viral video of three elephants sent from Malaysia to a zoo in Japan has sparked public anger after online users said the animals appeared distressed when visitors called their names in Malay – which many viewers interpreted as a sign of homesickness. The footage showed the three pachyderms – Dara, Amoi and Kelat – responding to the Malaysian visitors, while another widely shared clip led social media users to claim one of the elephants appeared to be “weeping”. Other clips and images... .. read more..
Riot erupts over Australian indigenous girl’s suspected killer
Friday, May 1,2026,08:10
Hundreds of protesters clashed with Australian emergency services workers in a remote town following the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a five-year-old indigenous girl, police said on Friday. Australia’s prime minister, the Northern Territory’s police commissioner and a spokesperson for the victim’s family all appealed for calm after an angry crowd of roughly 400 indigenous people gathered on Thursday night at the hospital where the suspect was taken after being beaten unconscious by... .. read more..
Australia and Japan markets climb, looking past Iran war escalation fears
Friday, May 1,2026,07:38
This comes as investors took in strong earnings stateside, looking past weaker-than-expected economic data and threats of escalation in Iran. .. read more..
Man arrested in Japan for burning wife’s body in zoo incinerator
Friday, May 1,2026,06:40
Japanese police arrested a man for allegedly incinerating his dead wife at the zoo where he worked, officials and local media said on Friday, following the discovery of human remains. Police arrested Tatsuya Suzuki on Thursday evening on suspicion that he “transported the victim’s body to a tourist facility” in the northern island of Hokkaido and “destroyed it through incineration there”, a local police official said. The victim, 33-year-old Yui Suzuki, was identified by local media as his wife.... .. read more..