The government is considering asking TikTok and other large digital advertising platforms to have agents based in Taiwan in accordance with the draft act on the prevention and control of fraud and crime, which is scheduled to be reviewed at an Executive Yuan meeting today, the Ministry of Digital Af
CHANGE NEEDED: If nothing is done, summers could last up to seven months, affecting farmers, and rising sea levels would also threaten Yunlin County, Tainan and Keelung
Two government agencies have jointly published a climate change report to provide industry with a scientific basis for reducing carbon emissions. The National Science and Technology Council and the National Environment Research Academy yesterday said that their 2024 National Scientific Report on Cli
Masks are no longer to be required in medical institutions from Sunday next week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced yesterday, officially ending all COVID-19 mask restrictions.Masks would be recommended rather than mandatory in all medical institutions and centers for the elderly, CDC
US and Philippine forces yesterday sank a decommissioned China-made Philippine Navy ship during South China Sea war games simulating an attack on an enemy vessel, officials said.The exercises are being held near the city of Laoag, about 400km south of Taiwan, amid a backdrop of increased confrontati
The Israeli military yesterday said that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.However, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refuge
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20.Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his in
‘DIGITAL SOLIDARITY’: Taiwan, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are to install and operate a cable that would connect up to 100,000 people in the Pacific Islands
Taiwan, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are working together to install undersea cables as a demonstration of digital solidarity, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday.Blinken talked about the cooperation in a speech he delivered at the RSA Conference in San Francisco.He said
The Presidential Office yesterday remained mum about whether President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) plans to pardon former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) after a Chinese-language magazine reported that she would do so before her term ends on May 20.“The Presidential Office’s current position is still to ensur
Australia yesterday chastised China over its “unacceptable” behavior in international airspace, accusing a Chinese warplane of firing flares in the path of one of its navy helicopters.A Chinese fighter jet “intercepted” the Seahawk helicopter as it flew a UN sanctions surveillance mission above the
Israeli tanks yesterday seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.The UN warned of a potential collapse of the flow of aid to Pales
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said
Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges.“Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadershi
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) for making false allegations about donations to Ukraine and disclosing confidential documents, with the ministry saying that it would take legal action
BEHEMOTH: TSMC topped its peers with spending of NT$178.7 billion, up 11.1 percent from the previous year and accounting for 25.8 percent of the total
Taiwan’s listed manufacturing companies accelerated their research and development (R&D) spending last year to a record high NT$692.7 billion (US$21.4 billion), despite declines in sales and profits, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.The spending was up 2.9 percent from NT$673 billion
US and Filipino troops yesterday fired missiles and artillery at an imaginary “invasion” force during war games on the Philippines’ northern coast, days after their governments objected to China’s “dangerous” actions in regional waters.Thousands of troops are conducting land, sea and air maneuvers a
Israel’s military yesterday called for the evacuation of Palestinians from eastern Rafah ahead of a ground invasion of the city, as Gaza aid officials said Israeli jets struck two areas where the warning had been issued.The evacuation call followed intensified disagreement between Israel and Hamas o
UNWAVERING: Paraguay remains steadfast in its support of Taiwan, but is facing growing pressure at home and abroad to switch recognition to Beijing, Pena said
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena has pledged to continue enhancing cooperation with Taiwan, as he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait using force, Japanese media reported on Saturday.Kishida yesterday comp
SOME FAMILIAR FACES: In addition to the deputy ministers taking office later this month under the new administration, eleven officials are to stay in office
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced 15 new deputy ministers, with premier-designate Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) saying he expects the ministries to work together to build a technologically innovative and public interest-focused administration.Although the list did not include names for
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open.Paparo made the rem
Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim yesterday, as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled out, while Jerusalem said it would shut down al-Jazeera’s operations in Israel over its c
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia yesterday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine’s east and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.The Ukrainian Air Force yesterday said that Russia had launched 24 Shahed drones, of which 23 had been shot