Sat, Mar 28, 2026
PROTECTING INDUSTRIES: If the Mideast war ends within three months, global oil prices in October are not expected to be much higher, an economy official said Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) is to keep electricity rates unchanged for six months from next month in an effort to curb inflation risks due to the Middle East conflict, which has bumped global crude oil prices to more than US$100 per barrel, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.The aver
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday proposed amendments to the Employment Insurance Act (就業保險法) to codify the 80 percent parental leave allowance into law and provide full-pay subsidies for disadvantaged families that would be funded in part by the government.The draft changes aim to
Nepal’s youngest prime minister took the oath of office yesterday after his party won a landslide victory in elections earlier this month.Balendra Shah was appointed prime minister by Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel after his Rastriya Swatantra Party won nearly two-thirds of the seats in the N
Israeli attacks on Iran “will escalate and expand,” Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said in a statement yesterday, adding that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “warned the Iranian terrorist regime to stop firing missiles at the civilian population in Israel.”“Despite the warn
FIRST TRIAL: Ko’s lawyers sought reduced bail and other concessions, as did other defendants, but the bail judge denied their requests, citing the severity of the sentences Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was yesterday sentenced to 17 years in prison and had his civil rights suspended for six years over corruption, embezzlement and other charges.Taipei prosecutors in December last year asked the Taipei District Court for a combined 28-year, six-month sentence for t
ON TRACK: The defense minister said the next US arms sales package was proceeding as expected, with the government receiving a letter of guarantee from Washington Legislative committee members yesterday failed to reach a consensus on most articles of the three versions of the special defense budget bill.Over the past two days, a joint session of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and Finance Committee conducted article-by-article deliberations
PLASTIC PRODUCTS: NTUH has established a rapid response mechanism in the face of potential medical supply shortages due to the conflict in the Middle East Hospitals say that they have initiated contingency measures in response to the impact of the Middle East conflict on medical supplies and electricity prices.The ongoing conflict has led to oil price hikes that have impacted the global petrochemical supply chain, further pushing up the costs of some
Farmer fron Nantou County yesterday protested in front of the Executive Yuan in Taipei calling for the appropriation of 7.5 hectares of farmland for a controversial incinerator construction project proposed by the Nantou County Government to be canceled.The appropriated farmland is in the county’s M
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday.Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set
Vibrant street life and urban scenes familiar with locals carved in black paper, backlit by yellowish light, are telling the story of Taiwan and its people at a solo exhibition by papercut artist Johan Cheng (成若涵).It is Cheng’s first solo exhibition in Taiwan — which has opened at the Huashan 1914 C
POLICY STANCE: President William Lai’s visit to NCSIST showed that the government was focused on developing self-reliance and asymmetric capabilities, an official said The Ministry of National Defense has requested that the US push back the payment deadline for additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) approved for sale to Taiwan, as funding for the systems remain in limbo, a defense official said yesterday.The legislature earlier this month passe
China has “no right” to criticize Taiwan’s democracy regarding the sentencing of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday.It is an authoritarian regime, and therefore cannot lecture the nation, a vibrant democracy governed by t
The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) said the case involving party founder Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was “political prosecution,” so there would be no expulsion or disciplinary action against Ko, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said yesterday. The Taipei District Court on Thursday sentenced Ko to 17 years in pr
Core Pacific Group chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) was on Thursday released on an additional bail of NT$30 million (US$941,029) after the Taipei District Court earlier in the day sentenced him to 10 years in prison for bribery in the Core Pacific City case.Sheen would also be deprived of his civil r
DEEPER PROBLEM: Yen Huai-shing’s family rejected the service medal, instead calling for reforms, and the creation of a system to train and retain trade negotiators A fully independent panel would lead an investigation into alleged workplace bullying reported by late deputy trade representative Yen Huai-shing (顏慧欣), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.Yen died on March 12 at the age of 53. Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said Yen took medical leave
LIMITED AND MANAGEABLE: Investors would continue to profit despite tensions in the Middle East, and the group’s core operations remain strong, posting record profits Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) said yesterday its exposure to the Middle East remains limited and manageable despite heightened geopolitical tensions and rising inflationary pressure.Internal stress tests under multiple scenarios show the group’s capital position would remain within regulatory r
HEIGHTENED CONCERNS: A survey by National Central University showed that consumer concerns are linked to uncertainty caused by the war in Iran Taiwan’s consumer confidence declined this month as escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on sentiment and heightened concerns over inflation and economic risks, a survey released yesterday by National Central University (NCU) said.The consumer confidence index dropped 4.28 points from the
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (中芯, SMIC), China’s largest chipmaker, has sent chipmaking tools to Iran’s military, two senior US officials said on Thursday, raising questions about Beijing’s stance in the month-old US-Israeli conflict with Iran.SMIC, which has been heavily sanctione
Mandarin-language instructors from National Taiwan Normal University’s (NTNU) Mandarin Training Center on Friday last week protested outside the university, demanding better labor rights and protections, with a focus on ending three-month contracts.Out of the center’s 90 instructors, 73 have joined
The shifting geopolitical tectonic plates of this year have placed Beijing in a profound strategic dilemma. As Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) prepares for a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump, the traditional power dynamics of the China-Japan-US triangle have been destabilized by
It has been 12 years since the Sunflower movement — a protest led by students and civil groups to oppose the ratification of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement — not only thwarted the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “united front” strategy and brought about
BAD START: Pittsburgh’s Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Paul Skenes was knocked out of the game just two-thirds of an inning into a 11-7 loss to the Mets The Los Angeles Dodgers, sparked by a three-run homer by Andy Pages, on Thursday launched their bid for a World Series three-peat with an 8-2 victory over Arizona on a historic day of season openers.Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series Most Valuable Player, pitched six stron
Italy are to face Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place at the FIFA World Cup after beating Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday, as Wales and the Republic of Ireland suffered agonizing penalty shoot-out defeats in their qualifying playoff semi-finals.Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean struck second-half goals i
Bolivia and Jamaica on Thursday moved to within one win of returning to the FIFA World Cup after decades-long absences after securing opening victories in the intercontinental playoff tournament in Mexico.Bolivia, chasing their first World Cup appearance since the 1994 finals in the US, came from be
Kon Knueppel on Thursday scored 26 points as the Charlotte Hornets maintained their late-season charge for a playoff berth with an emphatic 114-103 defeat of the high-flying New York Knicks.Charlotte forward Knueppel rattled in six three-pointers as part of an impressive all-round team shooting disp
‘HEAVY WEAPONS’: The situation in South Kivu is tense, with hostilities expanding and shifting the front lines, including toward the border with Burundi, an official said The UN’s acting top envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Thursday warned the UN Security Council that the conflict in the nation is escalating and expanding, with increasing use of heavy weapons and offensive drones posing serious risks to civilians.Deputy Special Representat
PRESIDENTIAL POST: ‘Irrespective of who leads, Tatmadaw will continue to follow the guidance of successive leaders, advisers and mentors,’ an officer said Myanmar’s military leadership is set for a reshuffle following an annual armed forces parade yesterday, state media reported.The imminent leadership change comes just days before Myanmar’s newly convened parliament is due to meet on Monday to start the process to pick a new president, a role the hea
Observations made by a satellite operated by the US and French space agencies shortly after a strong earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula last year are giving scientists a better understanding of how tsunamis originate and propagate.The researchers said the findings might help improve
On Thursday, former Taipei mayor and founder of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was sentenced to 17 years in prison and had his civil rights suspended for six years over corruption, embezzlement and other charges. Seven others related to the case were also handed prison sentences, wh
Just after 6am, I walked up to the ticket gate at Taipei Main Station and entered the Taiwan Railway platform without scanning any ticket; instead, I flashed the Sanrio Fun Rail pass on my phone to the gate worker and was admitted. I found my train and prepared to board. My destination? This very sa
All seven members log onto a livestream, broadcast from a beach. A few years ago, it was a common image. But after the K-pop boy band BTS pressed pause on their full-band duties for nearly four years, it was revelatory.That’s the scene that begins BTS: The Return, a new Netflix documentary from dire
Travel fever is back, and it’s contagious. After years of being kept home during the COVID-19 pandemic, people are once again eager to explore the world. Rather than just book any trip, travelers are getting smarter about how they scratch that travel itch.MicrocationDefined as four days or fewer and
A: Apart from collaborating on crossover comics, “Chibi Maruko-chan” and “Crayon Shin-chan” will launch co-branded merchandise and pop-up stores this time.B: Actually, you don’t need to fly to Japan. Taipei’s Huashan 1914 Creative Park is hosting multiple anime-themed pop-up stores — including one
A: Popular humorous Japanese manga series “Chibi Maruko-chan” and “Crayon Shin-chan” will collaborate for their respective 40th and 35th anniversaries, publishing three crossover stories in April.B: Both were made into TV animation series, becoming huge hits in Asia. What are the crossover stories
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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