Stories from Taiwan

Taiwanese electricity users will face a 9.34% rate increase to reflect rising power generation costs. Taiwanese government officials announced that electricity rates for residential and industrial users will not be adjusted in May to stabilize domestic prices. Electricity prices in Taiwan may increase during the second half of the year due to high international natural gas spot market prices. Tensions in the Middle East have kept these prices at elevated levels. The source noted that while industrial and residential gas prices will not change in May, the electricity sector is expected to see adjustments. The price of industrial natural gas rose by 9.34% in May.

Taiwan has been rated as the world's most economically happy economy for 2025, according to a report with a 2.1 pain index score.

The possibility of the Trump administration using Taiwan as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China has increased, according to analyst Feng Cun. During a meeting in Washington D.C. A report indicates the US may use the Taiwan issue as a lever in leadership talks with China to strengthen its negotiating position. This follows discussions between officials in Washington D.C. and Taiwanese representatives regarding historical US-China negotiations. Tensions between Japan and China at the UN Security Council may influence US-China leadership talks, with potential for the US to use the Taiwan issue as a negotiation lever. Taiwan Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu has scheduled a fourth round of negotiations for Wednesday, May 6.

The Hualien County government held evacuation drills with three local townships on Thursday. The exercises were designed to prepare residents for potential barrier lake disasters.

Tainan City may need to take on debt due to a shortage of local government revenue.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office filed an appeal on the final day of the deadline regarding the sentencing of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office appealed the 17-year prison sentence handed to Taiwan People's Party founder Ko Wen-je. Prosecutors are seeking a heavier sentence following the initial verdict. Prosecutors had previously sought a sentence of 28 years and 6 months. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office stated they needed to study the reasoning behind the first-instance judgment before filing. The appeal comes amid public criticism from Chen Pei-chi, who compared the case to President Lai Ching-te's pet dog. Investigators had originally sought a sentence of 28 years and six months.

The criticism follows comments by Zhao Xin-ze, who stated he works 24 hours a day and claimed there is no such thing as a 'rainbow line' regarding work-life balance.

Starlux Airlines announced a partnership for its second-quarter in-flight catering services.

Political tension has emerged within Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party regarding voting protocols and recent remarks by legislator Ji Ling-lien.

A police officer in Kaohsiung has not been suspended despite allegations of harassing a female subordinate.