Regarding a hacking incident, Radio Taiwan International (Rti) issued a statement on Monday, Oct. 13, affirming its full cooperation with prosecutors, police, and investigators during the ongoing probe. Rti said it will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law. Rti is a government-funded national broadcaster, Taiwan’s only dedicated international broadcaster, and part of the nation’s key infrastructure vital to national security. According to station representatives, this makes it a potential target for information warfare and cyberattacks from both domestic and international actors.

According to the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK), an organization founded in 2022 to advocate for Hong Kong and its people following China’s national security crackdown, more than 1,900 people have been imprisoned on political charges in Hong Kong since 2019 — many without trial. Nearly 800 of them remain behind bars for their pro-democracy activism.  In this episode, Hong Kong human rights activist and CFHK Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Frances Hui shares her research about the harassment and isolation Hong Kong's political prisoners are routinely subjected to while serving their unjust imprisonment. 

Will the hunters find Pacifica's lost cousin?  Will they figure out what Finn is marked for?  Will Sock burn down Applebee? Find out on this Part 3 of Geek Out!'s Monster of the Week special feature!

On 10 October, also known as Double Tenth Day, people in Taiwan celebrate our National Day! Historically, 10 October 1911 marked the day of the Xinhai Revolution, which led to the termination of the Qing Dynasty in China and ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Republic of China, the official name of the ruling government in Taiwan. As people in Taiwan celebrate our National Day, there will be flag-raising ceremonies all over the country on 10 October. Plus, you can participate in the fireworks display in Nantou this year. Moreover, there is an exceptional projection mapping show illuminating the facade of the Presidential Office. This week, we’ll explore some words related to the National Day!   ●Words to Know: 1. 國慶 kok-khìng (n.) National Day 2. 國旗 kok-kî (n.) the national flag 3. 煙火 ian-hué (n.) fireworks 4. 鬧熱 lāu-jia̍t (adj.) lively, with lots of activities 5. 放假 pàng-ká (phr.) to have a day off

Today's episode includes an email from an old/new listener and some good wishes for Mid-Autumn Festival and 10/10 National Day! Can you guess who sent these emails and where they are from?  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.

In this episode, we reconnect with Rhea Leorag, a fellow Filipino whose journey has taken her from Manila to Taipei and Seoul — all in pursuit of learning, growth, and music. Rhea recently earned her Master’s degree in Cultural and Creative Industries from the Taipei National University of the Arts, with part of her studies spent in South Korea through an exchange program at the Korea National University of Arts. Her time in both countries gave her a front-row seat to two vibrant music scenes — each with its own rhythm, culture, and lessons. Tune in as Rhea shares what it was like navigating student life abroad, the differences between Taiwan and Korea’s learning environments, and what her takeaways were from these experiences. It’s a story of chasing knowledge, crossing borders, and finding your beat in unexpected places - an episode you don't want to miss!

This week, in our first episode we’re talking about the FIRST Mongolian invasion [attempt] of Japan , The Wuchang Uprising, and finally the genesis of the oral polio vaccine! And we’ve got some great tunes to pair them with as well.

The podcast episode is longer than usual to allow for a longer summary period. This week hosts Amanda and Michelle are tackling 2020's "Hospital" (杏林醫院) -- a movie about a haunted hospital. We discuss the reasons why running an "Underworld tour guaranteed to see your dead relatives" may be a bad idea, the importance of having balanced yin and yang energy, how mental health days can save lives, and why this movie reminded Amanda of last year's episode on "Abyssal Spider". Don't be fooled by the simple title, we're having a great time.

Which of the following is true: A) Oarfish are up to 36 feet long and swim in a vertical posture B) Jaguarundis eat salad C) Jacanas are also known as “Jesus birds” because of their ability to walk on water Listen to this episode to find out. 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. In this episode we talk about:  – Friend or foe  – March for Climate in Taiwan  – Jaguarundi ...and so much more. 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 to the second episode of our interview with opera singer, composer, and enthusiast, Ü. In last week's episode, we explored her rich musical background and discussed specific operas. Today, we will delve into some of her favorite composers, examine whether the opera audience is growing, and even hear short samples from her own work. If you're curious about opera but don't know much about it, you're in the right place! Ü is a big data interpreter specialized in music and languages. She started as a pianist, cellist, alto saxophonist, organist, accordionist, conductor, composer, producer, interpreter, and diction coach. Becoming a self-taught coder and big data interpreter (projector), Ü has helped several countries establish or modify policies and protocols. Her data projects began in public health and expanded into behavioral science. Now, she focuses on what she finds interesting or important. Since 2014, she has assisted children's homes and non-profit organiz...