In mid-June, the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services approved provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA), restructuring its regional defense framework and incorporating Taiwan and the Philippines into the First Island Chain Security Cooperation Initiative, according to reports. The move marks a shift in treating the two as separate defense entities and replaces the previous Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. 

Get ready for an episode full of purely positive news, then find out how I would spend a US$500 grant from the Drop Dead Generous experiment to help an indigenous community, plus some tips on how you can start a massive ripple effect today without spending a single cent. This episode's headlines: Nature’s engineers: family of beavers saves London tube station from flooding. New vaccine innovation brings world closer to ending Polio. Taiwan fathers lead surge in flexible childcare leave. London hospital opens first rooftop ICU garden to boost patient recovery. MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million gift expands meals, care for millions of U.S. seniors.

Brian and Daisy met in Taiwan, got together in Singapore, and now live in the U.S.!  Listen to their experience going from being teachers to parents and combining cultures!

Body parts are one of the most frequently used words when talking to people in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the middle part of your body in Tâi-gí, including everything above your waist. ●Words to Know: 1. 腹肚 pak-tóo (n.) stomach 2. 肚臍 tōo-tsâi (n.) belly button 3. 尻脊骿 kha-tsiah-phiann (n.) back 4. 龍骨 liông-kut (n.) spine 5. 腰 io (n.) waist 6. 皮膚 phuê-hu (n.) skin ●Idiom of the week: 儉腸凹肚 khiām-tn̂g-neh-tōo (Saving so much that the intestines and stomach become hollow.)

Today's episode features birthday wishes to one of our greatest listeners, Bidhan! Thank you for writing to us consistently and keeping me e-company via emails during Status Update. For anyone who wants to wish a friend a happy birthday, shout out to someone, or send good wishes to your close ones via shortwave and this program, please do send me an email or a letter!  If you would like to contact us and have your message read on air, please send a letter to P.O. BOX 123, 199 Taipei, Taiwan, or email us at English@rti.org.tw. You can also reach us on social media: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram at @Rtienglish.

Most people don't leave home because they want to start over again…yet that's exactly what happens behind every migration story. A new language. A new culture. A new career path. New rules, new routines, and sometimes a completely different version of ourselves. We leave in search of opportunity, but what happens when the life we planned doesn't unfold the way we expected? In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, host Mary Anne Sioco reflects on the lessons that emerged after a three-part conversation with Philippine Labor Director David Des T. Dicang and from her own personal journey migrating from the Philippines to Taiwan. From navigating uncertainty and the unexpected lessons of living abroad to the challenges of starting over, this episode explores a side of migration that statistics and headlines rarely capture. Because sometimes the biggest challenge isn't leaving home. It's figuring out who you become after you do. So join in on today’s episode for a thoughtful c...

For the last episode of this year's Pride Month series, Hanna spotlights some of Japanese-American director Gregg Araki's earlier work, which paved the way for the Queer New Wave.

Which of the following is not true?  (A) Taiwan has zero heavily polluted beaches as of June  (B) A carriage horse in NYC dropped dead this week  (C) A teenager stabbed three rodeo horses in a Las Vegas barn early June Listen to this episode of Formosa Fauna to find out!  In this episode:  - Punch the macaque's enclosure invaded in Japan  - Taiwan's most polluted beaches  - Carriage horses in New York City, U.S.  - Horse stabbing in Las Vegas, U.S. 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 of your friends. Want to share your own story and have it read on air? Send your story (photos welcome) to tristan@rti.org.tw! See you every week for Formosa Fauna Fridays!

Welcome back! You are joining us for the second part of our interview with Daniel Black, a New York rapper currently based in Taiwan.  In our previous discussion, we explored how his NYC roots have influenced his sound and his collaborations with local artists and beatmakers. Today, we will shift our focus to his lyric-writing process, the subjects he prefers to avoid, and some of his songs that feature samples. Additionally, he will share his plans for upcoming releases this year and how he intends to promote them.  Once again, let's welcome Daniel to the studio for our second episode. Daniel Black is an artist hailing from Jackson Heights, Queens, NY. His focus with his art so far has been storytelling. Whether the trials and lessons learned growing up in NYC or his travels and seeing how vast and amazingly awesome the world can be. All of that and more can be found in the lyrics of his music.  A lot of his influences do come from the hip hop found in NYC, but his overa...