China-linked networks are embedding propaganda in Taiwan social media pages. Taiwan infectious disease expert addresses rat-borne hantavirus concerns. President Lai Ching-te returns to Taiwan after his trip to the allied nation of Eswatini. Lai awards Fonte for a half-century of advancing Taiwan-US ties. Formosa Club Europe backs Taiwan’s right to visit allies, calls for WHA inclusion. Taipei launches new designated smoking areas in push for ‘smoke-free city.’

Taiwan tech news roundup for the week of 5/09-5/16 and a featured interview with Prof. Loren Chang from the National Central University on Taiwan's satellite programs.

Much to Michelle's delight, Heather is also huge on vacation planning and travel!  Join their excitement about the joys of taking trips!

Mother’s Day is only two days away! Though not a public holiday, Taiwan celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May each year. How heartwarming it would be to express our gratitude to mothers in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some related vocabulary and an idiom in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know: 1. 阿母 a-bú (n.) mother 2. 後生 hāu-senn (n.) son 3. 查某囝 tsa-bóo-kiánn (n.) daughter  4. 偉大 uí-tāi (adj.) great, important, impactful 5. 有孝 iú-hàu (v.) to be a good son / daughter 6. 感謝 kám-siā (v.) to thank ●Idiom of the week: 生囝師仔，飼囝師傅。 Senn-kiánn sai-á, tshī kiánn sai-hū. (The one who gives birth is a beginner; the one who raises the child is a master.)

Big Asian economies like those in Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Singapore, heavily rely on foreign labor to move commodities and sustain their maritime economies. What draws foreign workers to positions on fishing vessels? Work on fishing vessels is difficult, dirty, and dangerous. Entry-level positions may pay just US$550 to $600 per month for more than 12 hours of work each work day. Some workers will pay an agent up to $3,500 to secure the job for them, then pay them around $100 each month to keep it, meaning some will continue to work beyond their limits to repay that debt. Beatrice Zani, sociologist and a permanent researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), joins Tristan for this episode to give listeners a better understanding of labor and migration in Asian maritime economies.

This week, we continue our May Maestro series with Michael Giacchino, the score composer for The Incredibles, Zootopia 2, Up, and more. Stay tuned to find out how this film school student became a maestro in music in the end. To send your feedback or messages, feel free to find Wanson on Instagram (@wansonscafe) and YouTube (阿善Café/Wanson's Café).

Taiwan hosts over 14,000 marine species, one of which thrives in Taiwan's waters despite having an endangered status globally: the whale shark.  Ocean Affairs Council Director Lu Shiau-Yun (陸曉筠) joins Tristan in this episode to talk about this year's picture book that follows a friendship between a whale shark and Indigenous boy.  Listen to this episode to find out why people in Taiwan once called the whale shark the "tofu shark." Learn more about Taiwan’s oceans on the Ocean Affairs Council website: https://www.oca.gov.tw/en/ The Ocean Affairs Council sent a dolphin mascot to the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage this year to increase awareness about ocean conservation. (Photo: Ocean Conservation Administration's Instagram) Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and feeding your noggin with fun facts about the animal kingdom so you can become smarter than all ...

Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's out there!  Have a playlist inspired by the special day!