Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers
Saturday, May 16,2026,13:31
A Maldivian military diver died Saturday while searching for the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep inside an underwater cave. The group of five Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 meters (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 meters (98 feet). Maldives presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said that Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of... .. read more..
Grand Hotel Taipei rebuts CBS broadcast ban report
Saturday, May 16,2026,13:23
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The Grand Hotel Taipei has rejected media reports claiming that the hotel had prevented CBS from broadcasting coverage of the Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on its premises. .. read more..
Taiwanese writers share ocean-themed literature at Prague book fair
Saturday, May 16,2026,13:05
Prague, May 16 (CNA) Taiwanese authors Wu Ming-yi (吳明益) and Liao Hung-chi (廖鴻基) appeared at the Book World Prague this week to discuss Taiwanese literature and its complicated marine culture with Czech readers. .. read more..
Chou Tien-chen ousted in Thailand Open semifinals
Saturday, May 16,2026,12:29
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Taiwan's top male badminton player Chou Tien-chen (周天成) bowed out in the men's singles semifinals at the 2026 Thailand Open on Saturday after losing in straight games to Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn. .. read more..
Taiwan director in on Thai pop star's latest music video
Saturday, May 16,2026,12:24
Bangkok, May 16 (CNA) When Thai popstar Krissanapoom Pibulsonggram came out with a new video for his latest single on YouTube at the end of April, the key creative force behind it was Taiwanese music video director Pinbo Huang (黃品柏). .. read more..
Bangkok train-bus crash kills 8, Thai PM orders investigation
Saturday, May 16,2026,12:20
A collision between a goods train and a bus killed at least eight people and injured 35 in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday, police said. Firefighters and rescuers cordoned off the collision site, with investigators seen peering into the burnt-out shell of the bus. Pedestrians were ushered away from the busy downtown intersection, which is used by tens of thousands of vehicles each day. “Eight people have died and 35 others were injured,” Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit said. The... .. read more..
Elderly workforce grows as Taiwan settles in as super-aged society
Saturday, May 16,2026,10:18
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Taiwan's elderly workforce has continued to expand since the country entered "super-aged society" status last year, reflecting a growing desire among the elderly to work and labor shortages that need to be filled. .. read more..
CPC to leave gasoline, diesel prices unchanged for 7th straight week
Saturday, May 16,2026,09:17
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) State-owned oil company CPC Corp., Taiwan, has decided to leave domestic gasoline and diesel prices unchanged next week even as international crude oil prices continue to rise due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. .. read more..
Taiwanese weightlifter wins silvers, sets records at Asian competition
Saturday, May 16,2026,08:55
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Taiwanese weightlifter Chen Wen-huei (陳玟卉) won three silver medals and broke two national records in the women's 69-kilogram division at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, India on Friday night. .. read more..
Why Taiwan became the defining issue in the Trump-Xi talks
Saturday, May 16,2026,08:26
U.S. President Donald Trump had said arms sales to Taiwan would be on the agenda for his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping which ended Friday. .. read more..
Police question son of TV stars over homemade flamethrower
Saturday, May 16,2026,08:15
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Sun An-tso (孫安佐), the son of television celebrities Sun Peng (孫鵬) and Di Ying (狄鶯), was brought in for questioning by police on Saturday after posting a video on social media showing a homemade flamethrower being tested on a riverbank. .. read more..
From Tainan to Élysée Palace: Taiwanese chef reflects on 11-year journey
Saturday, May 16,2026,07:57
Paris, May 16 (CNA) For Taiwanese pastry chef Hsing Lun-yi (行倫邑), his 11 years working at the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president, have not always been glamorous, but he has turned the skepticism he has faced into motivation. .. read more..
Japan variety goods chain 3coins to open 1st shop in Taiwan in August
Saturday, May 16,2026,07:36
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) 3coins, the Japanese discount variety goods chain many Taiwanese enjoy visiting when in Japan, will open its first shop in Taiwan in August. .. read more..
Singapore minister reveals why human touch still important in AI era
Saturday, May 16,2026,07:04
Even as Singapore positions itself at the frontier of AI technology, human intelligence still remains critical, according to the city state’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan. “We should beware of just trying to throw every problem, and every step in a solution, at a large-language model (LLM),” he said on Saturday at the AI Engineer conference, referring to deep-learning technology behind generative AI services such as ChatGPT. Balakrishnan warned against discarding traditional AI models... .. read more..
'Sunday Comics Dream' exhibition revisits formative era of Taiwan comics
Saturday, May 16,2026,06:59
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) A new exhibition in central Taiwan is revisiting the rise of Taiwan's comics culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the legacy of a once-ambitious weekly magazine that sought to build a local comics industry. .. read more..
TSMC's Kumamoto unit fab swings to profit in Q1
Saturday, May 16,2026,06:22
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Kumamoto, Japan, turned a profit in the first quarter of this year, marking the first time the first fab of the unit become profitable since mass production started at the end of 2024. .. read more..
Bangladesh tests its India ties by seeking China’s aid for Teesta River
Saturday, May 16,2026,05:30
Every dry season, the Teesta River shrinks a little more – and with it, the livelihoods of millions of Bangladeshis who depend on its waters to survive. Dhaka has been asking India to help for years. Now, it is asking Beijing instead. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who took office in February, formally asked China earlier this month to help with its Teesta River restoration project, Bangladeshi state media reported. The US$1 billion scheme aims to dredge and rehabilitate more than... .. read more..
U.S. Taiwan policy unchanged after China visit: Trump
Saturday, May 16,2026,05:22
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The United States' longstanding policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, U.S. President Donald Trump said shortly after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (習近平) in Beijing, while warning against Taiwan declaring independence. .. read more..
Spy Fears On Air Force One? Trump Team Ordered To Dump Everything Received In...
Saturday, May 16,2026,05:13
U.S. officials and reporters aboard Air Force One were ordered to discard all items received during President Donald Trump ‘s two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping before departing Beijing Friday. Hard Security Call Staff surrendered burner phones, credential badges and Chinese-issued lapel pins, dropping them into a bin at the plane's stairs, according to White House pool reporter Emily Goodin of the New York Post, who wrote on X, "Nothing from China allowed on the plane." American staff took everything Chinese officials handed out – credentials, burner phones from WH staff, pins for delegation – collected them before we got on AF1 and threw them in a bi... .. read more..
Malaysian police probe claims that Jho Low returned to Kuala Lumpur for secre...
Saturday, May 16,2026,04:31
Malaysian police will investigate claims that fugitive financier Jho Low returned to the country for secret meetings. Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said the claims that Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, had come to Malaysia for meetings had not been verified. “We have not verified whether the claims are true or otherwise,” he told reporters on Saturday. “We will take appropriate action to investigate the matter further.” He was commenting on an article by Sarawak Report... .. read more..
Japan’s ‘ibasho’ sense of belonging helps disaster survivors heal, study finds
Saturday, May 16,2026,04:00
As the ground shook beneath her feet and the powerful tsunami rolled in from the Pacific Ocean on March 11, 2011, Masako Saito feared for her coastal community. Saito’s entire family escaped from Soma City in Japan, where massive waves caused utter devastation, and she could not return to witness the chaos for herself until the following month. It was “beyond recognition”, according to Saito. The once-thriving community had been largely flattened, replaced by mounds of debris and fishing boats.... .. read more..
Summer-like weather forecast for next week; highs could top 36°C
Saturday, May 16,2026,03:06
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Summer-like weather is forecast across Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Saturday. .. read more..
AI helps South Korea stop 99% of suicide attempts on Han River bridges in Seoul
Saturday, May 16,2026,02:56
For most residents of South Korea’s capital, the Han River is a place for evening strolls, picnics and a brief respite from city life. But for Kim Jun-young, chief of the Hangang Bridge CCTV Integrated Control Centre in Seoul’s Gwangjin district, it is where his team pulls people back from the edge every day. Established in 2021, the centre uses AI for comprehensive emergency response, monitoring 900 CCTV cameras across 17 of the 21 pedestrian-accessible Han River bridges. Beyond suicide... .. read more..
Trump Urges Taiwan, China To 'Cool Down' After High-Stakes Summit With Xi Jin...
Saturday, May 16,2026,02:49
President Donald Trump signaled neutrality on Taiwan’s security on Friday, warning Taipei not to expect unconditional U.S. military backing while urging restraint from both sides following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping . Uncertainty Over Taiwan Arms Package In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier , Trump said U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed. “Nothing’s changed. I will say this: I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war . I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” he said. When asked directly whether Taiwan shou... .. read more..
Taiwan headline news
Saturday, May 16,2026,02:46
Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Saturday are as follows: .. read more..
Trump Says China's 'Big, Beautiful' Boeing Jet Orders Could Rise Up To 750 If...
Saturday, May 16,2026,02:41
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Boeing’s statement) China has agreed to buy 200 Boeing (NYSE: BA ) planes in a deal that could eventually expand to as many as 750 aircraft, President Donald Trump said on Friday, potentially marking the U.S. planemaker’s biggest breakthrough in the world’s second-largest economy in nearly a decade as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing begin to ease. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters the agreement “includes approximately 200 planes and a promise of up to 750 if they do a good job,” and the jets will be powered by GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE ) engines, though details on aircra... .. read more..
The West was never the whole world. It’s time to move on
Saturday, May 16,2026,02:00
Western social science has made three metaphysical mistakes. The first was to assume that its laws and lessons were, like the physical sciences, universally applicable to all societies. Harvard Professor Theodore Levitt captured the prevailing zeitgeist well when he wrote in 1983: “The world’s needs and desires have been irrevocably homogenised.” That may have been true 40 years ago. It is no longer. One indirect consequence of this assumption – that the whole world was converging towards a... .. read more..
Japan’s restaurant sector left hungry for talent after visa suspension
Saturday, May 16,2026,01:51
Restaurant operators in Japan have been forced to review their approach to hiring foreign workers since the government suspended the issuance of special visas needed to work in the sector, as the number of holders nears its preset quota. The sudden suspension by Japan’s immigration authorities has raised the spectre of fierce competition for foreign talent. Long known for its strict immigration policy, the country has been increasingly counting on foreign workers amid labour shortages. The... .. read more..
Iran war fallout triggers massive biofuel shift across Asia
Saturday, May 16,2026,00:59
Taxi driver Ravi Ranjan, who lives with his wife and child in New Delhi, said shipping disruptions caused by the Iran war had forced him to pay higher prices for cooking fuel at a time when India’s prime minister was also urging residents to reduce driving and travel. It was all hitting his bottom line, Ranjan said, as he was paying three times as much for liquid petroleum gas after facing delays on delivery of the cooking fuel. “I used to get a cylinder of LPG for 1,000 rupees (US$10), now I... .. read more..
Beyond bamboo: Vietnam’s To Lam mounts a diplomacy offensive
Saturday, May 16,2026,00:00
Vietnam’s To Lam is a man in a hurry. Since claiming the nation’s top job, its most powerful leader in decades has been in near-constant motion, pressing flesh and signing deals in Beijing, Washington, Pyongyang and Moscow. His itinerary, which also included stops in New Delhi, Helsinki, Paris, London and several Southeast Asian capitals, reads less like a diplomatic calendar than a world tour – and analysts say that is precisely the point. “Where previous leaders practised a restrained,... .. read more..
Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?
Friday, May 15,2026,22:00
US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the US-Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the latest instalment of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we explore the massive upswing in capital expenditures across Asia that is driving a broad shift in economic power. When US President Donald Trump made his... .. read more..
How to deal with this ‘very Chinese time’ in Western lives
Friday, May 15,2026,21:30
What comes to mind when you think of China, Japan and South Korea? This was a question posed in a second-year sociology seminar during my time at Bristol, and it has stayed with me ever since. We were split into three groups and given 10 minutes to create posters capturing our immediate associations. Japan came first. Sketches of anime, sushi platters and temples appeared. My classmates spoke with enthusiasm, drawing on travel memories or aspirations to visit. A country that, less than a century... .. read more..
Chinese EVs are coming to Canada, and some dealers can't wait to sell them
Friday, May 15,2026,18:25
Canada is allowing 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles to be imported for retail sales annually at a tariff rate of 6.1%. .. read more..
Li Auto Unveils 6-Seat Family SUV Li9
Friday, May 15,2026,17:32
Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI ) on Friday launched the all-new Li L9 , which is set to begin deliveries on May 17, 2026. The stock’s decline comes as broader market indices are also experiencing downward pressure, with the S&P 500 down 0.90% and the Nasdaq falling by 1.16%, indicating a challenging environment for many stocks. Li Auto officially launched the Li L9, a premium smart electric vehicle, with prices set at RMB459,800 ($67,766.15) and RMB509,800 for its Ultra and Livis trims, respectively. The company’s focus on expanding its product lineup in the new energy vehicle market is crucial as it aims to capture a larger share of the growing demand for electric vehicles in C... .. read more..
South Korea's KOSPI Hits 8K, Then Drops 6%—What Triggered The Rally And Selloff?
Friday, May 15,2026,16:06
South Korea's benchmark stock index reached a historic milestone on Friday. Then, within hours, it gave most of it back. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) briefly touched an intraday record high of 8,046.78 before reversing sharply to close at 7,493.18, a drop of 6.1% for the session. The sell-off triggered a regulatory circuit breaker, as South Korea's Korea Exchange (KRX) halted program trading for five minutes after KOSPI 200 futures fell more than 5% in under a minute. Furthermore, the KOSPI remains up roughly 80% year-to-date, so Friday's move reflects a rapid consolidation after one of the most aggressive equity rallies in recent global market history. A R... .. read more..
Ukraine war: 36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over in...
Friday, May 15,2026,13:44
Thirty-four European states plus Australia, Costa Rica and the EU said on Friday they would join a future special tribunal for Ukraine to prosecute Russia over its invasion of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an accord with the Council of Europe last year to create a legal body to prosecute the “crime of aggression” in the invasion Russia launched in February 2022. The Council of Ministers, comprising foreign ministers from the organisation’s 46-member states, in a... .. read more..
Stock Market Today: Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Decline As Trump Concl...
Friday, May 15,2026,12:56
(Editor’s note: The future prices of benchmark tracking ETFs, and the headline were updated in the story.) U.S. stock futures fell on Friday following Thursday’s record moves. This comes as investors weigh the outcomes of President Donald Trump ‘s visit to China. President Trump concluded a business-focused visit to Beijing on Friday, securing deals for major U.S. companies like Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA ) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA ) . However, complex diplomatic issues regarding Taiwan and Iran remain unresolved. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.54%, and the two-year bond was at 4.06%. The CME Group's FedWatch tool ‘s projections show markets pr... .. read more..
Trump Says He Doesn't Need Any 'Favors' From China On Hormuz Opening, Hints A...
Friday, May 15,2026,12:51
President Donald Trump insisted on a legitimate 20-year assurance of no nuclear activity from Iran, and hinted at possible action to get the Strait of Hormuz opened. Speaking during an Air Force gaggle while traveling from Beijing to Washington, Trump revealed that he had dismissed Iran’s latest proposal after reading the initial sentence, which he deemed “unacceptable.” He stressed that he would only consider the rest of the proposal if Iran agrees to a total nuclear prohibition. Responding to the reporter’s suggestion that a 20-year ban might not be enough, Trump clarified that it would be sufficient, as long as it is a “real 20 years”. When questione... .. read more..
Chou Tien-chen advances to Thailand Open semifinals
Friday, May 15,2026,12:46
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Taiwan's top male badminton player Chou Tien-chen (周天成) advanced to the men's singles semifinals at the 2026 Thailand Open on Friday after defeating South Korea's Jeon Hyeok-jin in three games. .. read more..
Top Economist Says A Little-Watched Chemical Could Be Signaling The Start Of ...
Friday, May 15,2026,12:32
A little-watched industrial chemical is suddenly at the center of global commodity market turmoil. Economist Steve Hanke noted China's sulfuric acid export prices have surged to nearly 12 times their May 2024 levels amid disruptions tied to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, citing Argus data shared in a post on X. "We’re entering a commodity supercycle. You want to be long commodities," Hanke wrote on Thursday. Thanks to the US-Israeli war on Iran, China's sulfuric acid export prices are now almost 12 times their May 2024 level. As I've said, "We're entering a commodity supercycle. You want to be long commodities." pic.twitter.com/JwaiIlI2uB — Steve Hanke (... .. read more..
Nvidia May Be Returning To China — But It May Not Regain Control
Friday, May 15,2026,12:32
For years, the global AI boom effectively ran on Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA ) chips. Then U.S. export restrictions disrupted that dominance in China and opened the door for Huawei to emerge as the country's leading domestic AI infrastructure player. Now Nvidia may be getting a second chance. But China's AI market no longer looks the way it did before the chip war began. A Reuters report suggests the U.S. has approved limited H200 AI chip sales to Chinese tech giants including Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA ) (NYSE: BABAF ) , Tencent Holding Ltd. (OTC: TCEHY ) and ByteDance under strict conditions. Under normal circumstances, that would have been viewed as a major win f... .. read more..
Maldives rescuers search for missing Italian divers in underwater cave
Friday, May 15,2026,12:28
Rescue teams in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives searched for a second day Friday for the bodies of four missing Italians following the country’s deadliest diving accident, officials said. Italy’s foreign ministry said on Thursday night that five citizens had died while diving, with Maldivian authorities recovering one body. Maldives Minister of Tourism Mohamed Ameen said coastguard officers and security forces were scouring remote seas around where the divers were reported missing... .. read more..
TSMC to sell part of VIS stake, maintain strategic ties
Friday, May 15,2026,12:13
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced Friday that it plans to sell up to 152 million shares in Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. (VIS), while maintaining its strategic cooperation with the company. .. read more..
No community risk from cruise passenger linked to hantavirus outbreak: CDC
Friday, May 15,2026,11:44
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) A New Zealand passenger linked to a rare Andes hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship poses no risk of community transmission in Taiwan after testing negative for the virus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday. .. read more..
Taiwan should closely watch U.S. policy despite no stated changes: Experts
Friday, May 15,2026,11:34
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Taiwan should remain alert to possible subtle shifts in Washington's approach toward Taipei, despite the absence of stated changes in the United States' Taiwan policy following the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), an expert said Friday. .. read more..
Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub
Friday, May 15,2026,11:07
A widely touted economic hub in the Philippines will involve eight more countries, signalling greater international confidence in the long-term viability of the ambitious project to boost connectivity and trade in a key region. The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), a trilateral infrastructure initiative led by the US, Japan, and the Philippines, is set to receive additional support from Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Initially envisioned as a... .. read more..
Support for same-sex marriage in Taiwan rises to 54.3%: Survey
Friday, May 15,2026,11:07
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Support for same-sex marriage in Taiwan has risen to 54.3 percent, up 12 percentage points from seven years ago, when it became legalized, according to a survey released Friday by a non-profit civic group. .. read more..
Taiwan launches final 600-tonne Anping-class patrol vessel
Friday, May 15,2026,10:52
Kaohsiung, May 15 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday launched the 12th and final 600-tonne Anping-class patrol vessel built for the Coast Guard Administration (CGA), marking the completion of the fleet under the government's indigenous shipbuilding program. .. read more..
Indian Shares Reverse Early Gains As Oil Prices Spike
Friday, May 15,2026,10:31
Indian shares reversed early gains to end modestly lower on Friday as Hormuz concerns persisted and the Trump-Xi summit yielded little progress on the war in Iran. .. read more..
Eight more clinics suspended for 6 months over alleged privacy violations
Friday, May 15,2026,10:14
Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Five Airlee aesthetic clinics in Taipei and New Taipei, along with two Saint Eir clinics and one Dr. Shine clinic in Taichung, have been ordered to suspend services for six months over alleged hidden-camera offenses, local officials said Friday. .. read more..