South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang’s late 2025 data breach affected more than 200,000 users in Taiwan, prompting the Consumers’ Foundation, Chinese Taipei (CFCT), to urge the government to tighten cross-border data oversight and fast-track the creation of an independent Personal Data Protection Commission. 

From Xi Jinping’s Cairo message to Chinese coast guard ships east of Taiwan, this episode examines what “no outside interference” means when a great power sets the rules nearby. Joey Chou weighs US strain, Beijing’s pressure and Taiwan’s response, asking what autonomy looks like for an island that cannot leave. (Photo generated by AI)

It's time to catch up! Join me for today's episode full of letters! And the special thanks and shout-outs go to Mr. Anand Mohan Bain, who supplies Status Update with his/their lovely updates in the form of letter.  And please, if you have a moment!   We invite you to complete this survey to help us better understand how you use our website and what you think of it. As a token of our appreciation, you will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw by providing your contact information at the end of the survey. A wonderful selection of gifts awaits! The survey goes until October 18! https://2026survey.rti.org.tw/en/ 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.

Have you ever imagined working in a profession where every word you say for someone else could shape what happens next? For Angel Kao, becoming an English–Chinese court interpreter in Taiwan was never part of a carefully laid-out career plan. An unexpected experience overseas gave her a personal glimpse into how intimidating and defenseless a legal system can make you feel when navigating it in an unfamiliar language. Years later, a friend’s suggestion opened the door to a profession she had never imagined pursuing. In Part One of this Formosa Dream Chasers interview, Angel looks back on her relationship with English, the experiences that shaped her understanding of language, and her surprising journey into Taiwan’s courtrooms. She also reveals what went through her mind during her first assignment, and why stepping into court involved a little more than professional preparation. Tune in to discover how an unexpected turn became an opportunity to help others find their vo...

Boy howdy do they make a bad guy look good. 

How many eggs do you think a mature female green iguana can lay in a single clutch? A) 10-20 B) 30-40 C) 70-80 D) 100-120 Kaohsiung is set to change the way it tackles its growing population of invasive green iguanas, with the city government planning to offer vouchers for qualifying adult iguanas removed by trained members of the public.  Beloved actress Hayden Panettiere was more than a celebrity, as she advocated strongly for marine mammal rights. At the age of 18 she traveled to Japan to protest annual dolphin hunts. Listen to this episode of Formosa Fauna to find out more. 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 fo...

Thank you for tuning in to your weekly exploration of talented musicians based in Taiwan! Today, I’m excited to be joined by CJ, a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and producer who has experienced a blessing in disguise. In the first part of our conversation, he will share how he began playing the piano and what led him to shift his focus from classical performance.  CJ will also discuss the significant improvements he made through singing lessons and the jobs he held while studying in North America. We’ll conclude by delving into his songwriting process, the essential elements that precede it, and begin discussing his first album. CJ MiT (謝金融) is a singer-songwriter and producer from Taichung, Taiwan. His self-produced debut album, “My Words” (《我說》), received four nominations at the 37th Golden Melody Awards in 2026, including Best New Artist, Best Taiwanese Male Singer, Best Taiwanese Album, and Album of the Year. He started playing piano at the age of eight and later ...