[{"ar_sbhdtease":"SILICON VALLEY HUB:","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"3060","ar_id":"2003830222","ar_sbhdbody":"The office would showcase Taiwan\u2019s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-15","ar_head":"Taiwan start-up hub established in Silicon Valley","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday.The \u201cStartup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub\u201d at No. 299 California Ave","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/15\/2003830222","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830222","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA","ph_cap":"National Development Council Minister Paul Liu speaks at the launch of a start-up hub in Palo Alto, California, on Monday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/15","ph_fname":"P01-250115-602.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/P01-250115-602.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/thumbs\/P01-250115-602.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Chiu Chih-jou and Hollie Younger ","ar_views":"1158","ar_id":"2003830223","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-15","ar_head":"Free health checkups expanded","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The Health Promotion Administration yesterday announced that starting this year, those aged 30 and older are eligible for free health checkups every five years, benefiting an estimated 3.2 million people.The latest adjustment has lowered the minimum age for free health checkups from 40 to 30.Those a","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/15\/2003830223","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830223","ph_attr":"Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"Representatives from the Health Promotion Administration pose for photographs at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/15","ph_fname":"P01-250115-005.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/P01-250115-005.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/thumbs\/P01-250115-005.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"FREEDOM FIGHTERS:","ar_byline":"By Hollie Younger","ar_views":"548","ar_id":"2003830224","ar_sbhdbody":"Images of the Taiwanese struggle for democracy resonate with Lithuania\u2019s own experiences of revolts, Gabrielius Landsbergis said","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-15","ar_head":"President honors Lithuanian ex-foreign minister","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"President William Lai (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) yesterday presented the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to former Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Taiwan-Lithuania relations and to thank him for standing with Taiwan to uphold demo","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/15\/2003830224","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830224","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA ","ph_cap":"President William Lai, right, shares a toast with former Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.\r\n<i>Warning: Excessive consumption of alcohol can damage your health.<\/i>","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/15","ph_fname":"P01-250115-603.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/P01-250115-603.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/thumbs\/P01-250115-603.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"898","ar_id":"2003830225","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-15","ar_head":"Japan hosts PRC military delegation in rare visit","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Japan yesterday said that a Chinese military delegation was on a rare exchange visit as the Asian neighbors attempt to thaw frosty ties ahead of US president-elect Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration on Monday next week.Members of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army were visi","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/15\/2003830225","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830225","ph_attr":"Photo: Reuters","ph_cap":"The Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army Air Force Bayi aerobatic team perform at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on Nov. 14 last year.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/15","ph_fname":"P01-250115-316.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/P01-250115-316.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/thumbs\/P01-250115-316.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"605","ar_id":"2003830226","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-15","ar_head":"Trump would have been convicted if not elected: report","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"US president-elect Donald Trump would have been convicted for his alleged effort to overturn the 2020 election result if he had not been elected four years later, said a report released yesterday by then-US special counsel Jack Smith.The US Department of Justice\u2019s \u201cview that the Constitution prohibi","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/15\/2003830226","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830226","ph_attr":"Photo: AFP","ph_cap":"A combination of pictures created on Nov. 14 last year shows US president-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 13 last year, and then-US special counsel Jack Smith on June 9, 2023.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/15","ph_fname":"P01-250115-317.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/P01-250115-317.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/15\/thumbs\/P01-250115-317.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER:","ar_byline":"By Chung Li-hua and Esme Yeh","ar_views":"1560","ar_id":"2003830160","ar_sbhdbody":"In Germany, the sector would be developed around Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co\u2019s plant, and extend to Poland and the Czech Republic","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-14","ar_head":"Task force to promote chip diplomacy","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The Executive Yuan\u2019s economic diplomacy task force has approved programs aimed at bolstering the nation\u2019s chip diplomacy with Japan and European nations.The task force in its first meeting had its operational mechanism and organizational structure confirmed, with Premier Cho Jung-tai (\u5353\u69ae\u6cf0) the conve","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/14\/2003830160","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830160","ph_attr":"Photo: Bloomberg","ph_cap":"A semiconductor wafer at the TSMC Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu City is pictured in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/14","ph_fname":"p01-250114-pic7BB.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/p01-250114-pic7BB.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/thumbs\/p01-250114-pic7BB.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Wang Kuan-jen, Lin Che-yuan and Hollie Younger","ar_views":"1372","ar_id":"2003830161","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-14","ar_head":"Liao\u2019s promotion makes history","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The National Police Agency (NPA) yesterday announced a massive personnel reshuffle involving 146 high-ranking police officers, including the promotion of National Highway Police Director Liao Mei-ling (\u5ed6\u7f8e\u9234) to NPA deputy director-general, a milestone in the agency\u2019s history.Liao\u2019s promotion in July ","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/14\/2003830161","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830161","ph_attr":"\rPhoto copied by Yao Yueh-hung, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"National Police Agency Deputy Director-General Liao Mei-ling is pictured in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/14","ph_fname":"P01-250114-004.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/P01-250114-004.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/thumbs\/P01-250114-004.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"RESILIENCE IN DEFENSE:","ar_byline":"By Shelley Shan","ar_views":"680","ar_id":"2003830162","ar_sbhdbody":"William Lai thanked the Phoenix Award receipts for their work and sacrifices, which helped people in Taiwan survive disasters","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-14","ar_head":"President Lai vows additional 3,000 firefighters","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"President William Lai (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) yesterday pledged to add an additional 3,000 firefighters to the nation\u2019s disaster response system by 2028 while meeting with recipients of last year\u2019s Phoenix Awards, which honor outstanding firefighters.\u201cWe need to upgrade facilities at the firefighters\u2019 training center","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/14\/2003830162","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830162","ph_attr":"Photo: screen grab from the Presidential Office\u2019s Flickr page","ph_cap":"President William Lai, top, speaks during a meeting with the winners of the Phoenix Awards at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/14","ph_fname":"p01-250114-pic1AA.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/p01-250114-pic1AA.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/thumbs\/p01-250114-pic1AA.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"733","ar_id":"2003830163","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-14","ar_head":"China aiming to deepen Caribbean ties: Xi Jinping","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Beijing is ready to deepen its comprehensive cooperative partnership with Caribbean nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping (\u7fd2\u8fd1\u5e73) said yesterday during a meeting in Beijing with Grenadan Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, whose nation was a one-time diplomatic ally of Taiwan.China is willing to keep up a","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/14\/2003830163","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830163","ph_attr":"Photo: Reuters","ph_cap":"Grenadan Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell addresses the 79th UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 28 last year.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/14","ph_fname":"P01-250114-325.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/P01-250114-325.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/thumbs\/P01-250114-325.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"515","ar_id":"2003830164","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-14","ar_head":"S Korea and Japan stress security ties amid political strife","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan met in Seoul yesterday to discuss strengthening their relations in the face of increasing security challenges in the region and political tumult in the host nation.It marked the highest-level diplomatic meeting between the nations since South Korean Pre","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/14\/2003830164","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830164","ph_attr":"Photo: EPA-EFE","ph_cap":"South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, right, shakes hands with Japanese  Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya after a joint news conference following their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/14","ph_fname":"P01-250114-324.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/P01-250114-324.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/14\/thumbs\/P01-250114-324.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"INSURRECTION:","ar_byline":"By Aaron Tu and William Hetherington","ar_views":"3756","ar_id":"2003830100","ar_sbhdbody":"The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-13","ar_head":"Chinese spy prosecutions tripled in four years","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday.In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese ","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/13\/2003830100","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830100","ph_attr":"Photo: Reuters","ph_cap":"A surveillance camera is silhouetted behind a Chinese national flag in Beijing on Nov. 3, 2022.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/13","ph_fname":"P01-250113-333.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/P01-250113-333.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/thumbs\/P01-250113-333.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Chiu Chun-fu and Hsu Kuo-chen","ar_views":"2462","ar_id":"2003830101","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-13","ar_head":"Over 760 foreign money mules arrested last year: CIB","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Seven hundred and sixty-four foreigners were arrested last year for acting as money mules for criminals, with many entering Taiwan on a tourist visa for all-expenses-paid trips, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said on Saturday.Although from Jan. 1 to Dec. 26 last year, 26,478 people were arr","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/13\/2003830101","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830101","ph_attr":"Photo courtesy of the police","ph_cap":"Police arrest a suspected money mule in Changhua County on Thursday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/13","ph_fname":"P01-250113-003.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/P01-250113-003.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/thumbs\/P01-250113-003.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"ROOM TO COLLABORATE:","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"783","ar_id":"2003830102","ar_sbhdbody":"The head of the Finland Trade Center said his country and Taiwan should seek to cooperate in areas such as technology and green energy","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-13","ar_head":"Cable incidents raise suspicions: Finland\u2019s Raunio","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"While submarine cables are occasionally damaged accidentally, the occurrence of several incidents over a short time \u201cinevitably raises suspicion about the possibility of deliberate sabotage,\u201d Finland\u2019s representative to Taiwan said in an interview last week.On Nov. 17 and 18 last year, the C-Lion1 c","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/13\/2003830102","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830102","ph_attr":"Photo: CNA","ph_cap":"Finland Trade Center in Taiwan Director Lauri Raunio poses for a photograph on Wednesday last week.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/13","ph_fname":"P01-250113-603.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/P01-250113-603.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/thumbs\/P01-250113-603.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"573","ar_id":"2003830103","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-13","ar_head":"Seoul confirms Ukraine captured two N Koreans","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) yesterday backed up Ukraine\u2019s account of having captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in Russia, after Kyiv said they were being questioned.Ukraine, the US and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending more than 10,000 sol","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/13\/2003830103","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830103","ph_attr":"Photo: Kremlin via AP","ph_cap":"Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smile together in Pyongyang on June 19 last year.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/13","ph_fname":"P01-250113-341.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/P01-250113-341.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/thumbs\/P01-250113-341.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"528","ar_id":"2003830104","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-13","ar_head":"Firefighters race to beat LA blazes, as toll rises","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Firefighters yesterday battled to get on top of massive wildfires around Los Angeles as winds ramped up, pushing the blazes toward previously untouched neighborhoods.At least 16 people were confirmed dead from fires that have ripped through the city, leaving communities in ruins and testing the mett","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/13\/2003830104","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830104","ph_attr":"Photo: Reuters","ph_cap":"A girl lies asleep on her mom\u2019s shoulder at a distribution center for people affected by the Eaton Fire at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Saturday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/13","ph_fname":"P01-250113-338.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/P01-250113-338.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/13\/thumbs\/P01-250113-338.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"REGIONAL PEACE: ","ar_byline":"By Lee I-chia","ar_views":"1694","ar_id":"2003830051","ar_sbhdbody":"The US is supporting Taiwan\u2019s self-defense capabilities by providing the nation with defensive arms and services, as it aims to maintain cross-strait stability","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-12","ar_head":"US affirms support for Taiwan defense","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The US on Friday reiterated its support for Taiwan\u2019s self-defense capabilities in a statement affirming its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.The White House said that Washington has supported Taiwan\u2019s self-defense capabilities through a range of security assistance authorities and resources, in","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/12\/2003830051","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830051","ph_attr":"Photo: Bloomberg ","ph_cap":"The US flag, left, and Republic of China flag are displayed in Taipei in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/12","ph_fname":"p01-250112-taiwan.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/p01-250112-taiwan.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/thumbs\/p01-250112-taiwan.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"By Wu Po-hsuan and Esme Yeh","ar_views":"905","ar_id":"2003830052","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-12","ar_head":"Tech council aims for 480 petaflop computing speed","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) yesterday said it would lead the development of Taiwan\u2019s sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) by boosting the combined computing speed of the nation\u2019s supercomputers to 480 petaflops by 2029. AI sovereignty refers to a country\u2019s full autonomy over","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/12\/2003830052","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830052","ph_attr":"Photo: Wu Po-hsuan, Taipei Times","ph_cap":"The National Science and Technology Council logo is pictured at its headquarters in Taipei in an undated photograph.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/12","ph_fname":"p01-250112-tech.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/p01-250112-tech.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/thumbs\/p01-250112-tech.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"BREAKTHROUGH: ","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"3245","ar_id":"2003830053","ar_sbhdbody":"The US is making chips on par in yield and quality with Taiwan, despite people saying that it could not happen, the official said","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-12","ar_head":"TSMC has begun 4-nm chip production in US, official says","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, \u53f0\u7a4d\u96fb) has begun producing advanced 4-nanometer (nm) chips for US customers in Arizona, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, a milestone in the semiconductor efforts of the administration of US President Joe Biden. In November last year, the commerc","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/12\/2003830053","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830053","ph_attr":"Photo: Reuters","ph_cap":"A logo of TSMC can be seen in Tainan on December 29, 2022.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/12","ph_fname":"p01-250112-332.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/p01-250112-332.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/thumbs\/p01-250112-332.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"544","ar_id":"2003830054","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-12","ar_head":"Los Angeles wildfire continues, 11 dead","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Californians on Friday demanded to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness.At least 11 people died as flames ripped through neighborhoods and razed thousands of homes in a disaster","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/12\/2003830054","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830054","ph_attr":"Photo: Getty Images\/AFP","ph_cap":"A view of homes destroyed by the wildfires that continue to burn through Los Angeles are pictured on Friday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/12","ph_fname":"p01-250112-329.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/p01-250112-329.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/thumbs\/p01-250112-329.jpg"}},{"ar_sbhdtease":"","ar_byline":"","ar_views":"570","ar_id":"2003830055","ar_sbhdbody":"","ar_section":"Front Page","ar_pubdate":"2025-01-12","ar_head":"Japan to give high-speed patrol boats to Indonesia","dp_urlname":"front","ar_desc":"Japan is to give Indonesia two high-speed patrol boats, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said yesterday, as Tokyo seeks to boost regional maritime security cooperation in the face of growing assertiveness by China.Ishiba made the pledge during a visit to Jakarta, where he held talks with Indon","ar_url":"News\/front\/archives\/2025\/01\/12\/2003830055","photo":{"ar_id":"2003830055","ph_attr":"Photo: AFP","ph_cap":"Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, shakes hands with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Bogor, West Java, yesterday.","ph_fpath":"2025\/01\/12","ph_fname":"p01-250112-330.jpg","ph_url":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/p01-250112-330.jpg","ph_url_thumbs":"images\/2025\/01\/12\/thumbs\/p01-250112-330.jpg"}}]