Sun, Sep 13, 2026
DIGITAL EQUALITY: Mobile phone ownership in the nation rose to 98.04 percent last year, surpassing color televisions to become the most common household device Smartphone and Internet access in Taiwan exceeds 90 percent even among the lowest-income households, a survey released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) showed. The latest Survey of Family Income and Expenditure, which compared the top 20 percent of income earne
The military is holding live-fire drills featuring missiles, rockets and drones, involving all service branches and the coast guard at Jioupeng Base (九鵬基地) in Pingtung County this week, a source said.The exercise is expected to involve Patriot, Tian Kung (Sky Bow, 天弓), Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind, 雄風) a
The Iran-backed Houthis yesterday controlled Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast after capturing three strategic islands in a lightning offensive the previous day, cementing their hold on a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia. The developments are likely to deepen the Middle East war’s impact o
Members of the 11-nation BRICS group including China, Russia, Iran and India yesterday called for calm in the Middle East, in a joint statement issued at a summit in New Delhi. “We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective n
FREEDOM EVENT: ‘No one can dictate who may be hosted on European soil,’ an organizer said after China had complained about the vice president being invited Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) is visiting Italy to attend an international conference on freedom and democracy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, confirming a previously unannounced trip.The organizers invited Hsiao to attend the Second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom an
KMT-LED BILL: The DPP said it regrets that the Cabinet’s proposal was not passed, while the KMT said the bill shows Taiwan’s support for the uncrewed vehicle industry President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday promulgated a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-led bill aimed at promoting defense autonomy and the uncrewed vehicle industry, following its passage by the legislature last month.The Legislative Yuan on Aug. 27 passed the Act on Strengthening Defense Autonomy and
CONTINGENCY PLAN: Being prepared would reduce the costs Taiwan could face if countries around the world began competing for energy, an official said Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) yesterday urged the government to conduct an early energy risk assessment as Middle East tensions rise.The Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Energy Administration, CPC Corp, Taiwan and Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) are among the authorities a
China has warned that it could cancel a planned US-China leaders’ summit if Washington approves new arms sales to Taiwan, a Japanese media outlet quoted sources as saying yesterday.US President Donald Trump, “apparently eager to showcase some diplomatic achievements ahead of November’s midterm congr
For decades, China’s maritime pressure on Taiwan centered on the major shipping strait separating the two neighbors. Now, Beijing is piling unprecedented pressure on its Pacific coast — a vital lifeline with US allies.China has deployed on average two Coast Guard cutters per month east of Taiwan sin
AUTHENTICITY: ‘A truly strong culture does not need to boast about itself, nor does it fear how others perceive or treat it,’ the minister of culture said Taiwan’s existence and culture are painful for China, Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠) said in a radio interview in France, describing Taiwan as “a mirror that reveals the true nature of things.”Speaking to Radio France Internationale (RFI) on Friday, Li said China has been unable to achieve what Ta
FLEXIBILITY: Local governments would be able to decide their own plant nursery size requirements and grant certificates to online sellers without physical stores Seed and seedling business operators without a fixed place of business could apply for a plant seed enterprise registration certificate at the end of this month at the earliest, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said.The Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act (植物品種及種苗法) stipulates that seed and seedling b
The public should listen to, understand and have empathy with others to build a resilient social safety net together, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), healthcare workers and health groups said yesterday, echoing the message of World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday.World Suicide Preventi
A woman surnamed Yi (易), suspected of ambushing and shooting her boyfriend’s wife in Taipei on Friday, was arrested yesterday in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District (三重), police said.The victim, a 50-year-old woman surnamed Chao (趙), was shot by a suspect dressed in a black down jacket, baseball cap
MORE RELIABILITY NEEDED: AI was also susceptible to suggestions, sometimes abandoning initially correct diagnoses in favor of outside opinion, researchers said Artificial intelligence (AI) models are prone to sycophancy, research by National Taiwan University’s Natural Language Processing Laboratory found.AI sycophancy can easily go unnoticed during daily use, but it puts users at risk when AI is used in the medical, financial and legal industries, the stu
Leopard cat-friendly farming methods helped boost honey production by 10 percent over the past four years, a Miaoli County-based beekeeper said at an A-Hu Go (阿虎加油) brand event in Taipei yesterday.The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Hsinchu branch yesterday launched the brand with a sales
In Brick Lane, the historic heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, residents oppose plans for a data center in a disused brewery, citing the erosion of heritage and need for social housing.“This has really been the focal point of the British Bangladeshi community,” local councilor Faysal Ahmed tol
A new generation of mining projects targeting rare earth and critical minerals could transform Malawi’s economy — but experts warn of the Africa-wide challenges in turning resource wealth into broad-based prosperity.One of the world’s poorest countries, Malawi has long depended on agriculture, aid a
Senegalese engineers in hairnets and white gloves are carefully assembling a nanosatellite at a French lab — another step toward fostering their own space industry at home.Preparations are already under way for the building of satellites at a new headquarters for Sensat, Senegal’s national space pro
On Tuesday, two delegations of Japanese lawmakers came to Taiwan to meet President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office. The first, led by Haruo Kitamura of the Conservative Party of Japan, represented the Diet Members’ Association for Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait cross-party par
A recent incident in which a public representative took their young daughter to an emergency room and loudly berated medical staff has sparked outrage in the medical community. Behind the confrontation lies a longstanding workplace dilemma in the medical field — the unrealistic expectation that heal
Taiwan and its partners have devoted enormous attention to deterring a Chinese military attack. Taiwan is increasing defense spending, acquiring asymmetric capabilities, expanding civil defense and preparing critical infrastructure for a potential blockade or invasion. The US, Japan and Australia ar
CONTENTIOUS VISIT: Trump is not loved by all in Ireland, with its strong national pro-Palestine stance, and many protests were scheduled in Dublin for his arrival US President Donald Trump landed in Ireland under tight security Saturday for two days of diplomacy and golf, on a trip that again blurs the lines between his presidency and personal business interests.Trump touched down at Dublin airport in his Qatari-gifted plane on Saturday morning.At least 4,000
Rugby players might be muscular, broad-shouldered athletes built to be seen, but some of the sport’s biggest stars barely turned any heads as they walked around Baltimore, Maryland, this week.“We had a few people recognize us, not me necessarily but the guys I walk with,” South Africa number eight J
Guro Reiten scored her first NWSL goal and Jaedyn Shaw added a goal and assist for Gotham FC in a 2-1 win over Racing Louisville on Friday.In other action across the National Women’s Soccer League, the Kansas City Current and the Orlando Pride played to a 2-2 draw; and Angel City tied the visiting D
Big Foe made another big run at the US Open but again could not break through to his first Grand Slam final.Frances Tiafoe got knocked out in the semi-finals on Friday night by fellow American Ben Shelton. This was his third trip to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in five years, after getting th
‘NO JUSTICE’: ‘For 25 years, administration after administration — including leaders in front of us here today — chose to protect the Saudis,’ a bereaved family member said The US on Friday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the devastating Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with a poignant ceremony in New York marked by US President Donald Trump’s absence and searing criticism from victims’ relatives. In an unusual move, Trump paid his respects at the Pentagon, not the event i
North Korea yesterday fired multiple ballistic missiles, Seoul said, a day after South Korea concluded five days of joint maritime drills with the US and Japan that were focused on the North. Pyongyang last month slammed plans for the so-called Freedom Edge joint exercises in international waters of
SECRET FOOTAGE: A 17-year-old girl told British broadcaster Channel 4 that she had been approached by a man who covertly recorded her and their interaction Calls are growing louder in Europe for action against “pervert” smart glasses after secretly filmed footage of girls and women appeared online — with a petition in Britain demanding a ban on their sale. Anyone wearing smart glasses can take photos, film videos, listen to music, make phone calls, tra
Sept 14 to Sept 20Hwang Tae-im’s in-laws were among the many Korean families that congregated in Keelung after World War II, hoping to board a ship home. Japanese colonial rule had ended in both Korea and Taiwan, and many Koreans were eager to return to their newly-liberated homeland. Around 3,000
For a time, it became popular to describe the tactics of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in encroaching on sovereignty and militarizing islands in the South China Sea as “salami slicing.” Those slices have been getting chunkier. The People’s Liberation Army has been increasing its navy and air
For most train journeys, where you are going is the main consideration. On the Shanlan train (山嵐號) in eastern Taiwan, however, it’s not the “where” but the “how” that matters.On this pricey but meticulously crafted train journey running between Hualien and Taitung County’s Chihshang (池上), what you’r
＃本文由生成式AI協作，本刊編輯編修。The concept of a “social battery” is a metaphor used to describe the amount of energy an individual has for social interaction. Like a physical battery, this energy runs low over time and requires periodic recharging. __1__ Understanding these patterns helps individuals manage the
Why do people sit with their legs crossed? For many, crossing one leg over the other at the knee is comfortable and habitual. Over the years, people have wondered whether the position is bad for their health. Some believe it may __1__ high blood pressure or circulation problems. Others are concerned
A: Although we can’t fly to Paris for singer Celine Dion’s comeback shows, we can still enjoy K-pop girl group IVE’s concerts in Taipei, or the hit “Tung! Take Me Away” concert in Taitung this weekend.B: Singer Post Malone’s show in Kaohsiung, and even the widely discussed “Beheading Heartbreaker
| New Taipei City | 29-33 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 30-34 | 10% | |
| Hsinchu City | 30-34 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 29-33 | 10% | |
| Miaoli County | 29-32 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 30-35 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 28-31 | 20% | |
| Yunlin County | 29-33 | 20% |  |
| Taichung City | 31-34 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 29-33 | 20% | |
| Changhua County | 30-33 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 29-32 | 10% | |
| Chiayi City | 29-34 | 20% | |
| Tainan City | 29-31 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 29-32 | 10% | |
| Pingtung County | 29-33 | 60% |  |
| Yilan County | 28-31 | 10% | |
| Hualien County | 28-30 | 10% | |
| Taitung County | 28-31 | 10% | |
| Kinmen County | 28-31 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 28-30 | 20% | |
| Lienchiang County | 27-30 | 20% | |
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