President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) warned Wednesday that China views Taiwan’s year-end elections as a key test of its Taiwan policy and is seeking support for “patriotic forces” in Taiwan. 

After reading the positive news I turn to This Week in Good History to celebrate the birth of hip-hop at a Bronx back-to-school party in 1973, and the creativity, resilience and unity that turned two turntables into a global cultural movement. This episode's headlines: 105-year-old Ohio woman celebrates birthday with motorcycle ride. Portugal’s last circus elephant begins new chapter at Pangea sanctuary. Kazakhstan’s Saiga antelope population tops 4.6 million in remarkable conservation comeback. Taiwanese indigenous camellia oil wins 3-star “exquisite” at London Great Taste Awards. Four-legged surfers make waves in California. Taiwan approves Siraya as 17th Indigenous group.

We have some emails, including a beautiful essay about the future of DXing. Do you think that DXing still has a place in this world?  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.

The idea of 'buying' a new beginning is easy. We can purchase the running shoes, the beautiful planner, or the perfect outfit in minutes. But what happens after we bring them home? Why does becoming the person we pictured take so much longer? In the final chapter of this three-part series, host Mary Anne Sioco moves beyond what our belongings represent and asks what they reveal about the way we pursue change. From clothes saved for a more confident future to journals waiting for thoughts important enough to fill them, some of our most hopeful purchases remain caught between preparation and action. Once the excitement of a new purchase fades, how do we decide which possibilities deserve our time and attention? And which ones we’re ready to leave behind? Join Mary Anne for a lighthearted yet revealing reflection on the difference between purchasing change and pursuing it...and why the things waiting in our closets and on our desks may be asking us a question only we can answer.

Emma: What exactly is going on? This is the second episode in our August Spicy Summer series, where we look at the romance genre and put it under the microscope to see to what degree it deserves the reputation it has online and in the wider world. This year host Amanda Stephens is talking to four non-romance readers one month after they read an assigned romance novel to see if she can challenge their opinions or even change their mind about the genre. This week, Rti's own Fil Leskovsky is here to talk about the 2020 Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, how it shows a matchmaker-gone wrong scenario, the immutability of class and marriage, and the ways that it reinforced his opinions on the genre.

Which of the following has their own cleaning salons and massage parlors in the sea?  A) One kind of fish  B) One kind of octopus  C) A human Only one of those has them. Well... maybe two. Listen to this episode of Formosa Fauna to find out which! 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!

Hello and welcome to today’s episode! I’m excited to be joined by the indie rock band AlexIsWhirl. In this episode, we will discuss how they formed as a band, the story behind their name, and when they first started playing their instruments. They will also share what it took to win their recent Battle of the Bands in Taiwan and their perspective on the local music scene. Stay tuned for an insightful look at their songwriting, rehearsing, and live performances in Taipei! Alexiswhirl is a Taiwan-based indie/alternative rock band blending raw guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and modern indie textures with an energetic live sound. Their music moves between driving guitars, atmospheric moments and darker, more introspective songwriting, creating a sound that is both melodic and unapologetic. Formed with a love for live music and original songwriting, Alexiswhirl have quickly built a reputation for energetic performances and a growing collection of original material. Their debut E...