■ TRAVEL
UK changes cash allowance
The British government announced a new upper limit on the amount of cash that travelers can carry with them when entering the UK from non-EU countries or when they travel from the UK into non-EU countries, the Bureau of Consular Affairs said yesterday. From June 15, travelers will not be allowed to carry more than 10,000 euros (US$13,437) in cash into or out of the UK if they are traveling from a non-EU country or leaving the UK to travel to a non-EU country, the bureau said. Travelers who carry more than the maximum amount will be required to fill out a declaration form.
■ POLITICS
Pension hike proposed
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said yesterday that his caucus would next Monday propose an increase in the monthly pension for elderly farmers from the existing NT$5,000 to NT$6,000. The controversial issue was discussed at the party's caucus meeting yesterday, but no consensus was reached as some of its members said that the government should place a priority on advancing the national pension program instead of increasing farmers' pensions.
■ SOCIETY
Marriage brokers banned
Lawmakers agreed on Thursday to an amendment to the Immigration Law (入出國及移民法), putting an end to the controversial interracial marriage broker industry. Effective immediately, cross-border marriage brokers will be banned from doing business. To help combat international human trafficking, a special clause was added to the amendment allowing the issuance of a work or residence permit to foreign victims of sexual abuse or human trafficking during the investigation into their cases in Taiwan. The amendment also eased regulations governing residency for foreign-born Taiwanese children who have Taiwanese nationality.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
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