The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday said it would ask the Executive Yuan to raise a motion to oppose the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ infrastructure proposals and prepare to file for a constitutional interpretation if the KMT-dominated legislature forces their passage.
The International Industrial Talents Education Special (INTENSE) Program to attract foreigners to study and work in Taiwan will provide scholarships and a living allowance of up to NT$440,000 per person for two years beginning in August, Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) told a meeting of th
Government measures to control air pollution have effectively lowered the density of main pollutants, with more than 90 percent of air quality observation stations reporting a gradual decline in the density of PM2.5 (particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter), PM10, nitroge
NO CONTEST: Gitanas Nauseda, who got 46% of the vote in the first round, said he is confident of winning and does not need a campaign strategy
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte are to face off in the second round of the Baltic state’s presidential vote on May 26 after the incumbent failed to win an overall majority in the first round on Sunday.With almost all the ballots counted in the Baltic state th
China is targeting citizens studying abroad for their political activism, rights group Amnesty International said yesterday, with some students reporting harassment of family members back home.China does not tolerate political dissent and has used sophisticated tech tools and intimidation to crack d
SELF-SUFFICIENCY: The project would only be the beginning, as Taiwan needs at least 120 satellites to ensure uninterrupted communication, Wu Tsung-tsong said
The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) yesterday said it plans to launch six low Earth orbit satellites starting in 2026 as part of the government’s plan to boost the resilience of the nation’s communications.The development of the technology gained attention after Ukrainians were able to access the Interne
China is continuing to use “gray zone” tactics to cause social division in Taiwan and alter the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) found. The council said the academic report it commissioned to analyze the state of Taiwan-China-US relations
Taiwan claimed the No. 1 spot among exhibiting nations and took home the most awards at the 38th World Genius Convention and Education Expo in Tokyo.Of the 63 entries Taiwan submitted, 29 won gold medals, 23 won silver medals and six were given special awards.This year’s expo, held on Thursday and F
TWO TOP CONTENDERS: Prime Minister Simonyte’s ruling conservatives and President Nauseda have clashed over relations with Beijing, which have been strained over Taiwan
Lithuania voted yesterday in a presidential election dominated by security concerns with the main candidates all agreeing that the NATO and EU member should boost defense spending to counter the perceived threat from neighboring Russia. The Baltic state of 2.8 million people fears it could be next i
Israeli forces were yesterday battling Palestinian militants across the Gaza Strip, including in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago, where Hamas has exploited a security vacuum to regroup.Israel has portrayed the southern Gaza city of Rafah as Hamas’ last
PLAN: Nations would receive US$5m a year if they could advance Taiwan’s international participation, diversify supply chains away from China or counter Beijing’s influence
The US House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Friday introduced a bill that would approve US$120 million to be spent on supporting Taiwan’s international space and tackling coercion by China.The bipartisan legislatio
EUROPE TRIP: Beijing hopes being friendly toward France will help China-EU relations, although Xi’s visit would not affect the EU’s derisking policies as a whole, the report said
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to sow division among EU states and sour EU-US relations, with the added aim of impeding the EU’s support for Taiwan, a National Security Bureau report says.The report discusses Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) visit to Europe from Sunday last week
North Korea plans to equip its military with a new 240mm multiple rocket launcher starting this year, state media said yesterday, adding a “significant change” in the army’s artillery combat capabilities was under way.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday oversaw a live-fire test of the “technic
Israel yesterday ordered new evacuations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation, while saying that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.Israel has now evacuated the eastern third of R
US President Joe Biden’s administration plans to impose major new tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China, a US official and another person familiar with the plan said.Tariffs on EVs, in particular, could quadruple — from the exist
QUESTIONS? A state of the nation address allows the president to explain their policy to the people, but does not make them answerable to the legislature, an expert said
Ruling and opposition lawmakers yesterday agreed to invite president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to give a state of the nation address at the Legislative Yuan after his inauguration on May 20.The consensus was reached during cross-caucus negotiations convened by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜).Deta
Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday announced the latest list of deputy ministers who are to take office after the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) on May 20.The list, a mixture of old and new officials, ensures continuity, with officials who have performed well staying o
MEDIA HUB: Taiwan’s commitment to freedom of the press has made it home to 176 correspondents from 86 media outlets from 22 countries, Tsai Ing-wen said
The Human Rights Press Awards for Asia yesterday hosted its annual ceremony in Taiwan for the first time, celebrating journalism and human rights in a nation ranked best in Asia for press freedom.Taiwan boasts freedom of the press and has become an important hub for international media, being home t
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano yesterday called for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over an alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Filipino admiral in a significant escalation of a bitter row over the South China Sea.China’s embassy in Manila had orchestrated “repeated acts o
The UN General Assembly was yesterday expected to back a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and sending the application back to the UN Security Council to “reconsider the matter favorably.”The Palestinians are reviving their bid to become a full UN memb