Fri, Feb 13, 2026
SPEECH DEFENSE: Some legislators said their actions were protected speech, citing a Constitutional Court ruling, an argument prosecutors rejected Ten lawmakers from the two main political parties yesterday were indicted for causing bodily injury and other offenses during a spate of brawls inside the legislative chamber and a committee room in 2024 and last year.Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介), Liao Wei-hsian
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday approved a special pardon exempting a woman in her 80s convicted of killing her disabled son from imprisonment.After carefully reviewing the case, Lai pardoned Lin Liu Lung-tzu (林劉龍子) from the prison sentence while acknowledging her conviction, citing the extrem
Counting began yesterday in Bangladesh’s first election since a deadly 2024 uprising, with powerful political heir Tarique Rahman bullish about defeating an Islamist-led coalition.Leading prime ministerial hopeful Rahman, 60, said he was “confident” his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — which was
The death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests last month has reached at least 7,002 people killed, with many more still feared dead, activists said yesterday.The slow rise in the number of dead from the demonstrations adds to the overall tensions facing Iran inside the country and
If China were to take Taiwan, Beijing would become "more aggressive, undermining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order," President William Lai (賴清德) said in an interview published today."If Taiwan were annexed by China, China's expansionist ambitions would n
PUSHBACK: The KMT’s Fu Kun-chi, speaking the same day 11 Chinese military aircraft were detected near Taiwan, said the Cabinet’s version of the budget would not pass The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) does not oppose prioritizing the Executive Yuan’s proposed special defense budget alongside its own version for review after the Lunar New Year holiday, TPP caucus convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍) said yesterday.He added that the party is not seeking to block the Cabine
PAPERS PLEASE The controversy over a TPP legislator’s unrenounced Chinese citizenship continues as agencies grapple with the never-before-seen situation The Ministry of the Interior has asked Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhengxiu (李貞秀) to submit proof she has applied to renounce Chinese citizenship by today, the Executive Yuan said yesterday.Li’s eligibility to assume public office in Taiwan was called into question after it was reporte
TIES THAT BIND Increasing numbers of visits between delegations and ministers have reinforced relations and increased business between the two countries recently The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday declined to comment on media reports that Romanian Minister of Finance Alexandru Nazare visited Taiwan at the end of last year.Formosa Television (FTV) yesterday reported that Nazare had visited Taiwan to discuss establishing reciprocal representative office
About 74 percent of Taiwanese want the legislature to pass the tariff agreement with the US as soon as possible, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, as it also urged opposition lawmakers to stop stalling passage of the general and defense budgets.Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterd
ADAPT AND THRIVE The program will help small and medium businesses to take advances in tech and sustainability in stride The Executive Yuan yesterday unveiled an NT$4.25 billion (US$135.1 million) aid package over four years to facilitate small and medium-sized enterprises’ adoption of digital and sustainable technologies.The latest package is part of an ongoing program that has helped 248,000 businesses to create NT$
RISING WAGES Both the GDP per capita and monthly minimum wage are increasing as Taiwan ably surfs the AI boom’s global economic swell Taiwan’s GDP per capita could exceed US$40,000 this year and the monthly minimum wage could top NT$30,000 if the economy continues its steady growth trajectory, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.Taiwan reported economic growth of 8.63 percent last year, with GDP per capita rising to US$39,47
The military has signed a contract to integrate US artificial intelligence (AI) and defense-technology firm Shield AI’s technology to build intelligent uncrewed systems, a move aimed at leveraging drones to counter the rising threat from China.Shield AI called the collaboration an “important foundat
Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Lin Kuo-chen (林國成) could face prison time after being indicted yesterday for insulting President William Lai (賴清德).Lai filed a criminal complaint against Lin for comments made during a livestreamed rally outside the Democratic Progressive Party’s headqua
NONCOMPLIANCE: The firm breached Railway Bureau rules 12 times in 2023, once in 2024 and twice last year, while THSRC was fined thrice from 2022 to last year Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) was fined a total of NT$8.7 million (US$276,542) for 15 penalties accumulated between 2022 and last year for failing to comply with railway regulations, the Railway Bureau said.The largest single fine was NT$1.2 million, issued for incidents between 2022 and 2023 in which t
Warm to slightly hot weather is forecast across Taiwan through the weekend, with daytime highs in the western half of the country approaching 30 degrees Celsius, before wetter and cooler conditions arrive from Lunar New Year’s Eve on Monday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Thursday.Acc
‘STRONGER GET STRONGER’: Partnerships between leading developers and sales firms have helped buffer the slowdown, sustaining a level of activity beyond smaller players Northern Taiwan’s major property sales agencies experienced a moderate pullback in project acquisitions last year as a softer housing market prompted smaller players to scale back, leaving top firms to shoulder the bulk of new business, My Housing Monthly (住展雜誌) said yesterday.The Chinese-language p
SEEKING SOURCES: The visit would assess mine conditions, ore veins and grade levels, and the findings would help determine whether they meet Taiwan’s industrial needs The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency plans to visit Texas, Wyoming and California in the second half of this year to assess sources of rare earths, as Taiwan seeks supply sources other than China.The planned US visit would assess local mine conditions, ore
A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered a formal investigation into chipmaker Nexperia BV and upheld an earlier order suspending its Chinese chief executive officer Zhang Xuezheng (張學政), citing doubts about the company’s policies and conduct.The written decision by the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam
The top Chinese official in charge of Taiwan policy this week said that Beijing must gain dominance in cross-strait relations and firmly support “patriotic pro-reunification forces” in Taiwan.All Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials must “firmly grasp the initiative and dominance in cross-strait
Over the past two years, under the leadership of President William Lai (賴清德), the government has managed to harness enormous opportunities from the era of artificial intelligence and expand into more diversified international trade markets in a series of extraordinary economic achievements. The IMF
Transparency International on Tuesday released its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) scores and rankings for last year. Taiwan’s score increased from 2024 by one point, earning a score of 68 on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Its rank also jumped by one spot to 24th globally.
‘SHAME’: The IOC said that Heraskevych’s helmet was not compliant with the rules, while Ukraine’s foreign ministry said there was nothing wrong with commemoration Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics yesterday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country’s war with Russia.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Gam
An athlete convicted of committing credit card fraud against one of her national teammates has won an Olympic gold medal for France in the women’s 15km biathlon, beating her victim to do it.Julia Simon, 29, was handed a 15,000 euro (US$17,820) fine and a three-month suspended sentence in October las
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B.The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclass
Manchester City FC halved Arsenal FC’s lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 home defeat of Fulham FC, and Aston Villa FC stayed in the frame with a late 1-0 victory at home to Brighton and Hove Albion FC on Wednesday.Nottingham Forest FC squandered a chance to put some distance between t
TALKS? While the US is pushing for negotiations to end the war by summer, Ukrainian officials said that ‘every strike is a blow to peace efforts,’ urging pressure Nearly 300,000 people were left without electricity and water supply in Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa after a Russian attack, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said yesterday.He added that close to 200 buildings in the city were left without heating, while 10,000 consumers were also
A teenage shooter accused of killing the principal of a school in Thailand using a police officer’s weapon was in custody yesterday, authorities said, after an attack that also injured two students.Police shot and arrested the 18-year-old on Wednesday after he stormed into the Phatong Prathan Khiriw
When Zhou, a 33-year-old Chinese civil servant, was a student, finding love and companionship was something she believed would happen with time.Today, her emotional needs are fulfilled by Qi Yu, her first boyfriend and partner of six months. He is wavy-haired, handsome and a painter. He is also fict
Just far enough out of reach to keep big crowds away, but not so far as to make a day-trip an exhausting affair, Jinhuang Hot Spring (近黃溫泉) is a nice winter escape for your next visit to Taitung County. The pools are numerous, the water is the perfect temperature and the walk in is not too challengi
Once upon a time, Aphrodite — the Greek goddess who ruled over love, lust, beauty and desire — was forced to flee from the attack of the giant Mimas. In her haste, she plunged into the water for refuge, only to realize too late that she had left her son, Eros, behind.She immediately returned to the
“I haven’t eaten in centuries,” says the stooped, wrinkled man knocking at a convent door, seeking food and shelter.LOL! It’s a funny line, given that this is a disguised Count Dracula — who indeed has not eaten in centuries, unless you count human blood. And it’s especially funny given that Dracula
A: Have you suddenly become so obsessed with ice sports because of the ongoing 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics?B: Apart from this, it’s also because of my obsession with an ice hockey-themed TV series, “Heated Rivalry.” A: Is that the gay romance drama where two ice hockey stars unexpectedly f
A: The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics just opened in Italy last weekend. Nineteen-year-old Li Yu-hsiang has successfully qualified for the event, becoming Taiwan’s second figure skater to compete in the Winter Games.B: I love to watch figure skating. Who are the most notable male figure skater
The UK government has unveiled plans to lower the national voting age from 18 to 16, a transformation set to take effect in the next general election. With youth turnout at historic lows, the reform is framed as a way to reengage younger citizens and restore trust in the political process, though re
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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