Fri, May 29, 2026
CRIMINAL CODE: People with drug-driving records would be flagged and their license would not be renewed until after they undergo treatment, an official said People with records of operating vehicles under the influence of drugs would be listed as high-risk drivers and not allowed to renew their license until after undergoing addiction treatment and a stand down period, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday.The government said
A US uncrewed surface vessel (USV) encountered multiple Chinese warships during an autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, US defense company Seasats said in a statement on Wednesday.Seasats announced that a Lightfish USV had completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait.Over five day
The US military yesterday accused Iran of contravening a ceasefire after Kuwait reported coming under attack in the latest flare-up that threatened ongoing negotiations to end the war.US Central Command said that Kuwait had intercepted missiles launched by Iran late on Wednesday night, calling the a
The Philippines and Japan yesterday agreed to negotiate an intelligence sharing agreement.Visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also said they would upgrade their ties to bolster security and economic cooperation.“At today’s meeting, regarding n
EIGHTEEN MEASURES: The plan has childbirth, childrearing and education stages, with goals to increase subsidies, lighten loads, improve flexibility and expand care President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday announced a new population strategy with 18 measures to counter the nation’s low birthrate and aging population, from monthly subsidies for children up to age 18, to expanded assisted reproduction assistance and policies to create a more family-friendly workplac
‘BOOMING’: ’ The number of partners we have here is incredible. You can see from their stock prices. They’re doing so well, they’re so happy,’ Jensen Huang said Nvidia Corp’s spending in Taiwan has ballooned to about US$150 billion a year, 10 times the US$10 billion to US$15 billion the company spent five years ago, Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said yesterday, suggesting Taiwan’s strategic importance in the global artificial intelligenc
CRITERIA MATCH: The ministry would work closely with household registration offices to ensure that children match the eligibility criteria of citizenship and residency in Taiwan The proposed NT$5,000 (US$159) growth subsidies are planned for implementation next year, and eligibility requires Republic of China citizenship and residency in Taiwan, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday.The subsidies would be distributed in two phases, with those
Marie-Noelle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group, yesterday led a delegation to meet with President William Lai (賴清德) in Taipei, pledging solidarity among democratic nations against authoritarian expansion, and backing the right of Taiwanese to determine their
AGGRESSOR: While nearly 86 percent support the ‘status quo,’ opinion is divided on who can be blamed for the disruption of cross-strait peace A survey commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council showed that more than 80 percent of respondents do not accept Beijing’s “one country, two systems” proposal for Taiwan, and nearly 90 of the respondents said that the nation’s future should be decided by 23 million Taiwanese. The council regularl
The secretary-general of the Legislative Yuan yesterday said he hopes a site for the legislature’s relocation or reconstruction could be decided during the current legislative term.Chou Wan-lai (周萬來) made the remarks at a hearing when lawmakers asked about progress on proposals to relocate or rebuil
Retired US army general Charles Flynn yesterday commended Taiwan’s expanded defense investments during the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, which boasted the largest-ever delegation to the event.The forum, cohosted by the US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) and the Taiwan External Trade De
The Ministry of Health and Welfare would defer to the final deliberation reached by the Legislative Yuan on whether it is necessary to introduce a basic act for dementia care, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday.The ministry has implemented two iterations of dementia
COMFORT FOR ALL: The initiative aims to protect heat-sensitive groups such as children and older people, and help those who are energy-disadvantaged, an official said The Cool Map is expected to include more than 10,000 cool-off sites nationwide by the end of this year to enhance protection of heat-sensitive groups, the Ministry of Environment said as Taiwan swelters.The Central Weather Administration issued heat warnings to 17 areas, with Pingtung and Hualien co
The ecological conservation collaboration platform for the Shalun Science Park development project aims to promote communication, the Ministry of Environment said yesterday.The National Science and Technology Council has proposed building a science park in Tainan’s Shalun Township (沙崙), and the proj
About 90 percent of Taiwanese men with signs of erectile dysfunction (ED) do not seek medical care, despite nearly 45 percent reporting that a decline in early morning erections has damaged their sexual confidence, a survey released yesterday by the Taiwan Society for Andrology and Sexual Medicine s
PREFERENTIAL RATES: The tax cuts would put Taiwan on an equal footing with Japan, South Korea and the EU, while widening its advantages over China, Kung Ming-hsin said Taiwan’s auto parts manufacturers are to benefit from the US’ preferential tariff treatment for non-semiconductor goods, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said yesterday.Kung’s comments came after the Executive Yuan said in a statement late on Wednesday that the US government is expe
Taiwan’s economy remained firmly in expansion mode last month, as robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications continued to drive exports, investment and domestic consumption, the National Development Council (NDC) said yesterday.The council’s business climate monitoring indicator hel
MiTAC Holdings Corp (神達控股) yesterday said it expects positive revenue growth momentum this quarter and for rest of the year, driven by continued robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and data centers amid strong client front-loading momentum.Growth momentum for this year is “wi
Taiwan Travelogue (台灣漫遊錄), written by Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子) and translated into English by Taiwanese-American Lin King (金翎), won the International Booker Prize last week, becoming the first Chinese-language novel to receive the award and a milestone for Taiwan’s literature on the glo
President William Lai (賴清德) has stated that “Taiwanese have the right to engage with the world.” That is a basic principle and should not be controversial. Yet in past years, Taiwan’s routine international engagement has been framed as provocative, a representation that is misleading and analyticall
Winning this year’s International Booker Prize has transformed Taiwan Travelogue (台灣漫遊錄) from an acclaimed literary work into a cultural moment for Taiwan itself. The novel had already made history in 2024 by becoming the first Taiwanese work to win the US National Book Award for Translated Literatu
FAST AND LOOSE: Despite command struggles, Ohtani has pitched his way out of trouble after falling behind in counts, which manager Roberts credited to his velocity Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night tossed six innings of no-hit ball, gave himself an early lead with a home run and still was not satisfied with his performance.The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar dropped some expletives that were picked up by the on-field mic as he struggled with his command
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles at the French Open, after she and German partner Mark Wallner defeated Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Briton Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets, despite temperatures exceeding 32°C in Paris, while Taiwan’s
Jean-Philippe Mateta on Wednesday scored as Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig to secure the club’s first European trophy in their history.After a cagey opening half with few clear chances, Mateta turned in a rebound for the game’s only goal on 51 m
Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven on Wednesday scored in a 2-minute-47-second span late in the first period as the Carolina Hurricanes moved within one victory of the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-0.Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his third shutout in 12 post-
SEEKING ORDER: Rodrigo Paz said that ‘anyone who wants to destroy the nation will have to deal with this president and the full force of the constitution’ Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz on Wednesday said that the nation was at a “breaking point” after nearly a month of protests that have caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine.Paz, who took office six months ago amid the worst economic crisis there in four decades, is battling a groundswell of fur
SEARCH ONGOING: Officials said that the half-full paper mill tank spilled more than 1.9 million liters of ‘white liquor,’ a highly destructive chemical mixture Crews on Wednesday resumed a search for nine people presumed killed at a Washington state paper mill, where a chemical tank ruptured a day earlier in one of the deadliest US workplace incidents in years.The likely death toll rose to 11, including those missing, after another person who was injured d
European nations risk walking into a Russian “trap” by getting bogged down over who should represent the EU in any Ukraine peace talks with Moscow, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said yesterday.“It’s a trap that Russia wants us to walk into, that we discus
Have you applied for a new job? If you’ve been shortlisted, get ready to be interviewed by artificial intelligence.Deluged by a flood of AI-generated job applications from easy-apply job boards, recruiters are turning to AI to cope. Companies are using chatbots to interview candidates, typically at
At 7pm on a Friday in London, the lobby of Third Space in Soho looks more like a members’ club than a gym. There’s a humming smoothie bar, twenty and thirtysomethings in color-coordinated workout sets and a steady stream of arrivals heading to reformer Pilates classes.A decade ago, this crowd might
Boots Riley holds nothing back in his audacious, surrealist social satire I Love Boosters. The film is a go-for-broke expression of wild imagination and social consciousness that’s impossible not to admire for its wacky, bold vision, with teleporting, high fashion snobbery and pyramid schemes.Here i
A: In the 2026 Time 100 list, besides TSMC chairman C.C. Wei in the Pioneers category, Blackpink’s Jennie also stands out in the Artists group.B: What about the Titans and Icons?A: The Titans include legendary fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Intel CEO Tan Lip-bu. The
A: Time magazine recently released its list of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2026.” It’s categorized into six groups: Artists, Pioneers, Titans, Icons, Leaders and Innovators.B: TSMC chairman C.C. Wei made the list this year. Which category is he in?A: Wei is actually among the Pioneers, wit
The animal kingdom is full of surprises that challenge our understanding of biology. From remarkable feeding mechanisms to extreme defense strategies, some creatures possess traits so unusual that they seem like pure fiction. Here are four fascinating examples that show nature’s endless creativity.
Two moves show Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) is gunning for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) party chair and the 2028 presidential election. Technically, these are not yet “officially” official, but by the rules of Taiwan politics, she is now on the dance floor. Earlier this month Lu confirmed in an interview in Japan’s Nikkei that she was considering running for KMT chair. This is not new news, but according to reports from her camp she previously was still considering the case for and against running. By choosing a respected, international news outlet, she declared it to the world. While the outside world likely paid little attention, domestically the message was unmistakable: She is moving on to a larger stage. Part of the dance is to leave options open before formally committing, and with the chair race due in late September, she has time. If something goes wrong in the meantime, or if power brokers in the party offer her a deal that provides more benefits than taking on the role of chair, she can pivot accordingly. Earlier this year, I suggested that strategically, she would be better off concentrating on her job as Taichung mayor until she is term-limited out of office in December next year. Taichung mayor is obviously a full-time job, and concurrently running the Taipei-headquartered party runs the risk of doing one or both jobs poorly and making mistakes that could imperil her shot at the presidency in 2028. The situation has changed. Current KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), knowing he is likely to face challengers of a higher caliber than the three relative nobodies already declared, has gone all in on appealing to the base. The base is more likely to turn out to vote in the chair election, so this makes some strategic sense in the short term.
Among Thailand’s Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) villages, a certain rivalry exists between Arunothai, the largest of these villages, and Mae Salong, which is currently the most prosperous. Historically, the rivalry stems from a split in KMT military factions in the early 1960s, which divided command and opium territories after Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) cut off open support in 1961 due to international pressure (see part two, “The KMT opium lords of the Golden Triangle,” on May 20). But today this rivalry manifests as a different kind of split, with Arunothai leading a pro-China faction and Mae Salong staunchly aligned to Taiwan. Last spring at Arunothai’s Jiaolian School, principal Wang Mingming (王明明) had forewarned me of the division between villages, saying, “We are not like the people in Mae Salong. They are rich. Because of the Taiwanese.” Arunothai has in recent years become split in its loyalties between Taiwan and China (see part one, “A tale of two schools,” on May 15), but in Mae Salong, links to Taiwan remain strong. Taiwan-funded monuments pay homage to the Lost Army, villagers wear T-shirts emblazoned with the Republic of China (ROC) flag and tea plantations grown Taiwan’s most famous tea varieties, including Dong Ding (“frozen peak”) Oolong, Oriental Beauty and Jin Xuan (Golden Daylily or Milk Oolong). Even the numerical classifications of the teas — Oolong No. 12 or No. 17, for example — are the same, and the shops resemble those found on Alishan. At the tomb of General Tuan Hsi-wen (段希文) — perched on a Mae Salong hilltop with a view of his ancestral homeland in China’s Yunnan province — a third generation villager wearing a vintage KMT army uniform, Yan Si-Chung (岩思中), greets visitors with sharp military salutes. “Both my father and my grandfather were soldiers in the KMT army,” the 44-year-old
| 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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