Fri, Jun 19, 2026
The Executive Yuan yesterday proposed a NT$210 billion (US$6.65 billion) special budget bill for the procurement of domestically produced drones over six years, to offset funding removed from an earlier defense spending bill.The special budget — which uses a funding mechanism that bypasses normal bu
CRACKDOWN: The draft changes include harsher penalties for drug driving and those who drive with a suspended license, and legalizes saliva testing The Executive Yuan yesterday approved draft amendments aimed at cracking down on drug driving, including a mandatory lifetime driving ban for those who drive under the influence of drugs and cause severe injury or death.People who are caught driving under the influence of drugs or refuse to take a d
US President Donald Trump yesterday lashed out at critics of his agreement with Iran, calling those who accused him of offering concessions to end the war “fools,” ahead of negotiations in Switzerland on implementing the deal.Oil prices tumbled after Trump and his Iranian counterpart separately sign
G7 leaders on Wednesday hailed a newfound unity on increasing pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, sensing a shift by US President Donald Trump to take a tougher line against Moscow.The three-day meeting in the French town of Evian focused intensely on Trump’s deal to end the war with Iran
CORE INTEREST: It is the sixth consecutive year since 2021 that the G7 summit has underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait The Presidential Office yesterday expressed its gratitude to the leaders of the G7 for issuing a joint statement reiterating their opposition to attempts to unilaterally and forcibly change the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait. “We highlight the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on t
‘HARVEST YEAR’: The US reported a significant breakthrough in the production of Stinger air defense missiles and plans to deliver 500 of the weapons before year’s end Taiwan is set to see a surge in arms deliveries in the second half of this year as up to eight major weapons systems are expected to be delivered or commissioned. Officials call it the most significant recent “harvest year” for the military’s upgrade programs.US and Taiwanese manufacturers have reso
‘CHINA EXCLUDED’: President William Lai said Taiwan has separate agreements with Japan and the Philippines, which provide channels to manage the rights of fishers President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday dismissed concerns that a plan by Japan and the Philippines to delimit overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) would adversely affect Taiwan, while stressing that China has no claim to the waters.The planned maritime boundary negotiations between Tokyo and M
President William Lai (賴清德) met with two US House representatives yesterday, expressing hope to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, technology and industry, and urging the US Congress to pass legislation preventing double taxation.US Representatives Lucy McBath, second vice chair of the
EXECUTIVE CHECK: Legislator Lai Shyh-bao said he supports a standard industry development act, as industrial development is the focus, not political maneuvering Funding for the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry must come from regular spending bills, not special statutes, which would weaken the legislature’s constitutional function as a check on executive power, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) told reporters yesterday.The E
“Made in Taiwan” should be “it is well made in Taiwan,” Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said yesterday at the Taiwan Trusted Brand Awards Ceremony in Taipei, adding that the core of the artificial intelligence (AI) era lies in “trust.”In the era of corporate competition, the focus was once on q
Thirty-four start-ups are showcasing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at the Taiwan Pavilion at VivaTech, one of the largest start-up and tech events in Europe, which opened in Paris on Wednesday.Organized by Taiwan Tech Arena, the pavilion highlights how AI technologies are enabling smart
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) last month hosted British Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones aboard a Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessel for cultural activities to mark this weekend’s Dragon Boat Festival.The event on May 29 — held aboard the CG5003 Yunlin, a Chiayi-class 4,000
EFFECTIVE: Since the implementation of the facial recognition software at ATMs at banks nationwide, fraud reports have dropped 20 percent, CIB officials said The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday reported on anti-scam progress, saying that, in collaboration with financial institutions, ATMs equipped with a “face-obstruction warning” feature are effectively deterring scam runners.Speaking at a news conference in Taipei, CIB officials said that
RISING POPULARITY: Enhanced flight connectivity and a visa waiver trial program are among the motivations that have boosted travel to Taiwan by Filipinos, the agency said The Tourism Administration said yesterday that it is stepping up efforts to attract tourists from the Philippines following strong growth during the first quarter.The agency’s data showed the nation welcomed 210,000 Filipino visitors from January to March, marking a 43 percent increase compared with
A record four Taiwanese universities placed in the top 200 of the latest QS World University Rankings, led by National Taiwan University (NTU), which rose from 63rd last year to its highest-ever ranking of 54th.NTU was joined in the top 200 by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) at 142nd, National
WAIT-AND-SEE: Maintaining the current policy rate would help support economic and financial stability in light of developments at home and abroad, the governor said The central bank yesterday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, , maintaining a cautious stance as it balanced a still-subdued inflation outlook against persistent global geopolitical and financial uncertainty, including tensions in the Middle East.The decision was widely expected and extends
FULL STEAM AHEAD: The economics affairs ministry attributed the growth to rising power consumption from AI data centers, chip fabs and extreme weather The nation’s power consumption is to grow 2.5 percent from this year through 2035, according to the latest forecast by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.That compares with the ministry’s prior 10-year forecast of 1.7 percent growth from last year to 2034.The ministry attributed the faster growth to r
US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post yesterday that Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and manufacture its chips in the nation.A partnership with Intel helps Apple diversify its manufacturing base as it seeks additional chip capacity. The iPhone maker relies heavily on Ta
National Taiwan University (NTU) last week announced that it has disqualified a candidate from its medical school examination for using artificial intelligence (AI) smart glasses to cheat, in the first case of AI cheating in university entrance exams.Despite the hot weather, the applicant wore a hoo
Writing has always been more than a communication tool; it is a carrier of information, culture and history. Broadly speaking, written languages can be divided into phonetic systems, such as English and French, and logographic systems, such as Chinese and Japanese. Thirty years ago, as the informati
Nearly three decades after the 1997 handover, Hong Kong has become a paradox: a place where financial dynamism coexists with political repression — a reality Taiwan cannot afford to ignore. Despite a sharp contraction of civic freedoms since 2020, Hong Kong remains a major global financial center. I
GHANA WIN: England’s Jude Bellingham put his side ahead shortly after halftime and Marcus Rashford padded their lead in the 85th minute Harry Kane on Wednesday scored twice to equal the England record for goals at the FIFA World Cup, while Jude Bellingham put England in front for good two minutes into the second half of a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Group L.Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane’s first-half goals in a
Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday delivered a forgettable performance in the first match of his sixth FIFA World Cup, failing to find the net in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in Group K.Joao Neves opened the scoring for Portugal in the first half at the Housto
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo on Wednesday said a drone was spotted flying over a training session before their clash with FIFA World Cup cohosts Mexico, calling the incident “unfortunate.”Victory in South Korea’s match against Mexico in Guadalajara today would virtually guarantee progress to the
The Detroit Tigers on Wednesday were without two players in their 4-2 MLB loss to the Houston Astros, missing outfielder Wenceel Perez due to a freak accident and second baseman Gleyber Torres with an oblique strain.Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters that Perez was hit in the the face by a res
‘KING OF THE NORTH’: Pollsters expect Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to win, who would easily gain the support of 81 of the 400-plus MPs needed to launch a contest The UK yesterday held a key local election that could trigger the endgame for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s beleaguered premiership, or win him a reprieve.Labour Party veteran and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is looking to win the parliamentary by-election for the Makerfield constit
Archeologists yesterday revealed that they have discovered a structure near the prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge in southern England that might have served as a “prototype” for the 5,000-year-old Neolithic monument.The structure would have consisted of two wooden poles 120m apart and aligned t
Drastic restrictions on cross-country travel took effect yesterday in cash-strapped Cuba, with spaces on ever scarcer trains and buses now reserved for the sick, people traveling for funerals and other emergencies.Cuba has been running on empty since the US in January cut off its fuel imports as par
In most of Taiwan’s temples, you’ll find door gods (門神) — full-length portraits of protective deities painted directly onto the large wooden main entrance doors. More often than not, they depict Qin Shubao (秦叔寶) and Yuchi Gong (尉遲恭), seventh-century generals who are said to have guarded the sleeping
The Toy Story movies, like Star Wars and those games Michael Jordan played with the Washington Wizards, pose a problem of canon.The first three movies are a near-perfect trilogy: a series that spanned a childhood: from bedroom playtime to college, from enchantment to loss. The scope didn’t seem epic
At the restless threshold of summer, Cancer season reminds us that true security comes not just from raising our walls, but from having the courage to let our defenses down.The giant crab, Karkinos, was summoned by Hera to attack Heracles as he struggled against the Hydra. The crab clamped its pince
A: In June alone, there are multiple film concerts for not only “Frozen” but also “Attack on Titan” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” B: Wow, film concerts are so popular. But a TV music competition reality show is even more popular now.A: Are you talking about “Ride the Wind 2026” — Season 7 of the “Sist
A: The classic musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” co-produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is making its Taiwan debut at the National Theater during the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend.B: Isn’t the rock musical, based on the “Passion” of Jesus, hailed as one of Webber’s “four major musica
When people think of archaeologists, they often picture adventurers discovering ancient tombs filled with treasure, much like Indiana Jones. However, the reality of archaeology is far from the dramatic scenes shown in movies. Archaeologists are scientists who study the past by uncovering and analyzi
| New Taipei City | 27-28 | 20% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Hsinchu City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 27-28 | 20% |  |
| Miaoli County | 24-26 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 27-28 | 20% | |
| Yunlin County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Taichung City | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 25-26 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Chiayi City | 25-27 | 10% | |
| Tainan City | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Pingtung County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Yilan County | 25-26 | 30% |  |
| Hualien County | 25-26 | 30% | |
| Taitung County | 25-27 | 30% | |
| Kinmen County | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 27-27 | 20% | |
| Lienchiang County | 27-28 | 20% | |
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