Taipei, July 14 (CNA) Taiwan's top representative to the U.S. and the nation's ambassador-at-large for religious freedom have both been invited to take part in a U.S.-organized international religious freedom forum next week in Washington.

Taipei, July 17 (CNA) Mitchell Silk, acting assistant secretary for international markets at the U.S. Treasury Department, was due to arrive in Taiwan Wednesday for a two-day visit to foster cooperation on energy and infrastructure between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Taiwan officially joined the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement on July 4, a move that Premier Su Tseng-chang said will benefit Taiwan’s deep-sea fishery industry and safeguard the rights of Taiwan’s fishermen to operate in the area. This marks the fifth regional fisheries management organization in which the nation has substantive participation.

The abuse of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) has emerged in an endless stream, affecting the physical and mental health of the people and the overall competitiveness of the country. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there has been an accumulated 943 NPS reported as of April 2019. The Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare (TFDA) organizes the “2019 International Conference on New Psychoactive Substances” on 10-11 July.

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Several Taiwanese recently gave their passports to a person offering a great opportunity overseas only to find they were the victims of fraud, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday, and it urged people not to give their passports to strangers.

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Taiwan joined the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) July 4, when it attended a meeting of the agreement's members as a "participating fishing entity" for the first time, the Fisheries Agency said Tuesday.

The latest arms sales to Taiwan approved by the U.S. Department of State are sincerely appreciated by the government and the people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 9.

At Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Premier Su Tseng-chang touted Taiwan’s success in the third round of mutual evaluations by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG). He thanked the Executive Yuan’s Anti-Money Laundering Office and other responsible government agencies for their hard work and preparations, which resulted in Taiwan’s placement in the best possible review category.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on July 2 a one-year extension of its trial program concerning visa-free entry to Taiwan for nationals from Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei and Russia.

Taiwan was promoted to the regular follow-up list maintained by the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) June 28, underscoring the effectiveness of government efforts in implementing globally recognized controls and initiatives.