Wed, Jun 12, 2024
Taiwan has stepped up national security measures, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday, after a former Chinese navy captain was arrested for illegally entering the nation on a motorboat.“National security cannot be neglected for a minute,” he said, adding that security units had been instructed
COVID-19 infections are rising in the nation, with 328 hospitalization cases recorded last week, an increase of 25 percent compared with the previous week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, adding that the outbreak might continue into August or September.Twenty people died of the
RANDOM? Police believe the attack on four teachers from Cornell College in Iowa was an isolated incident, based on a preliminary assessment, a government spokesman said Chinese police have detained a suspect in a stabbing attack on four instructors from Iowa’s Cornell College who were teaching at a Chinese university in the northeast city of Jilin, officials said yesterday.A 55-year-old man surnamed Cui was walking in a public park on Monday when he bumped into a f
A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is stepping down from Hong Kong’s top court, local officials said on Monday, the latest overseas judge to resign from the court amid concerns about judicial independence.Hong Kong’s judiciary confirmed that Beverly McLachlin would complete her te
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday proposed that high-risk drivers who have retaken their license tests be granted short-term licenses that are valid for one to six years, depending on the severity of their offenses.The ministry’s proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Secu
UNDER EVALUATION: The second-generation drone is equipped with a new engine and the configuration and systems have been redesigned, a military source said The military is compiling a final evaluation report on a second-generation Teng Yun (騰雲, “Cloud Rider”) drone after tests of the self-developed uncrewed aerial vehicle were completed last month, a military source said yesterday.Faced with the military threat from China, the military has increased re
A four-day election has shaken the foundations of the EU, with the far right rocking ruling parties in France and Germany, the bloc’s traditional driving forces. For the next five years it would be harder for the European Parliament to make decisions.French President Emmanuel Macron called snap nati
Hospital visits for heat-related illnesses doubled in April from the year before, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said, as it reminded the public to stay hydrated during the hot summer months.Taipei, New Taipei City, Hualien County and Taitung County were under heat warnings on Wednesday,
Vietravel Airlines is to launch a route between Taoyuan and Phu Quoc on Aug. 1, as well as services between Taichung and other Vietnamese destinations later in the month.Taiwanese made more than 850,000 visits to Vietnam last year, already surpassing numbers seen in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic
A draft immigrant rights act has been sent to the Executive Yuan for review, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said on Wednesday, while calling for the establishment of a committee dedicated to immigrant affairs.A draft basic act for new residents was discussed in the legislature’s Intern
SNAKE CAMS: Researchers installed motion-activated infrared cameras and thermal imagers in a nest, as well as radar transponders on the snakelets to track them A hundred-pace snake was filmed in Taiwan caring for its young, marking a first for the global snake research community, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.The agency and the Formosan Wild Sound Conservation Science Center monitored a nest of the v
TAOYUAN CONCERNS: Cleanaway Co, Taiwan Cube Energy and Li Jiang Development can proceed with their SRF plant plans, although protests are possible Plans by three companies to build solid recovered-fuel (SRF) power plants in Taoyuan are back on track, despite objections from locals, after the Ministry of Economic Affairs overruled a municipal government order to cancel the projects.In a directive issued on Thursday last week, the ministry overt
A fish has been discovered in Taiwan for the first time by marine biologist Ho Hsuan-ching (何宣慶), National Penghu University of Science and Technology professor Lin Po-an (林寶安) said in a statement yesterday.The fish was found in Penghu County during a cold snap in February 2022 while Ho, an associat
Three sauce products imported from the US were ordered destroyed or returned after they tested positive for ethylene oxide, a pesticide banned in Taiwan, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday.The FDA yesterday released its latest list of imported food-related items that failed border
MOTIVES UNCLEAR: While a source said the man was attempting to defect, experts said that the incident could have been a Chinese attempt to test Taiwan’s defenses Defense experts have urged the government to be on high alert following the arrest of a Chinese national in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) who claimed to have driven a motorboat from China to “defect” to Taiwan.The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Sunday arrested the man, who allegedly ar
The US plans to deploy thousands of drones in the Taiwan Strait in an operation called “Hellscape” to ensure that any attempt by China to invade Taiwan does not succeed, US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo told the Washington Post.In an article published on Monday, columnist Josh Rogin q
COMPETITORS: Executives touted the privacy safeguards that have been built into Apple Intelligence, but Elon Musk said Apple was selling its customers ‘down the river’ Apple Inc on Monday unveiled “Apple Intelligence,” its suite of new artificial intelligence (AI) features for its devices — and a partnership with OpenAI — as it seeks to catch up to rivals racing ahead on adopting the white-hot technology.For months, pressure has been on Apple to persuade doubters
European Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (ESMC), a subsidiary of contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), will hire almost 2,000, from Germany and other European countries, ESMC president Christian Koitzsch said on Monday.At the Taiwan-Europe semiconductor cooperation fo
The first Taiwan Expo in Europe launched on Monday in Berlin, with more than 100 Taiwanese businesses and their European counterparts seeking to cooperate, primarily in the digital sector.The three-day expo in the German capital targets digital and “green” transition opportunities in the EU, and is
Taiwan has long proven its value and significance in the world’s hardware supply chain, after 40 years of focusing on developing electronics as diverse as tiny chips and massive server racks. The nation’s most recent rise to prominence in tech is linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, whic
The constitution lays down two guiding principles for the Republic of China’s governmental structure: the “separation of powers and of checks and balances” and the “cooperation between state organs to uphold each other’s effectiveness.”The grand justices have often reinforced these two principles th
On June 4, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition emerged victorious from India’s national elections, a promising outcome for the future of Taiwan-India relations. The BJP is favorable to strengthening ties with Taiwan, aiming to expand cooperation in trade, technology and education. Priorit
STEAMING: The win came with a price for Florida as they lost skipper Aleksander Barkov when Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl launched at him and hit him in the head Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl on Monday knocked Florida’s Aleksander Barkov out of the game. The Panthers made sure they responded by landing the bigger blow, and the Stanley Cup Final took a heated turn.Evan Rodrigues had a pair of third-period goals, while Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad also scored as
South Africa on Monday defeated Bangladesh by just four runs in another low-scoring game at the Men’s T20 World Cup, a result likely to spark fresh debate over the suitability of the pitch being used in New York.South Africa were restricted to 113-6 in their 20 overs, with Heinrich Klaasen top-scori
Cal Raleigh on Monday hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners stormed back from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4.Raleigh, also known by a colorful moniker, Big Dumper, launched his walk-off drive against Jordan
The Netherlands’ delight with an emphatic 4-0 win over Iceland in their final warm-up match on Monday before heading to the Euro 2024 turned to despair when it was announced that playmaker Frenkie de Jong would not be going to the tournament in Germany.De Jong has been battling to be fit in time aft
‘HOPEFUL SIGN’: Hamas accepted the plan stipulating the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a swap of Israeli hostages for jailed Palestinians, a senior official said Hamas accepts a UN resolution backing a plan to end the war with Israel in Gaza and is ready to negotiate details, a senior official of the Palestinian militant group said yesterday in what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “a hopeful sign.”Conversations on plans for Gaza after the Israel-
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the nation should be prepared for any eventuality due to heightened tension in the Indo-Pacific region regarding sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, as well as security issues around neighboring Taiwan.The Philippines has long clashed with China o
Down a Tokyo street lined with bright signs, up narrow stairs and behind a windowless door is a “snack bar” long cherished by regulars but hidden from tourists — until now.Snack bars are cozy, retro establishments found across Japan, often crammed into small buildings and equipped with karaoke syste
On Christmas Eve 2022, Peter Chesson and his wife, Sheue Chiou-rong (許秋容), received some alarming news. The couple learned that the owner of a plot of land adjacent to the one on which they live in Nantou County’s Guosing Township (國姓) had decided to sell, and was telling prospective buyers the site
People from the US, Taiwan, Vietnam and beyond have paid tribute to Bradley Winterton, 86, a long-time contributor to the Taipei Times, who passed away in Saigon on June 1. He was 86. A veteran journalist, traveler and all-around Renaissance man, Winterton worked for Time Out magazine in Paris, was
Taiwan’s current energy and food situation is unsustainable — and an alarming security issue.Emma Sky, an expert on conflict and reconciliation and director of Yale University’s International Leadership Center, says that tackling climate change and shoring up Taiwan’s security are two sides of the s
In a thrilling basketball match, LeBron James attempts a shot, but it’s blocked by Stephen Curry, prompting gasps from the crowd. Moments later, Curry dribbles past the Lakers defense and sinks an incredible three-pointer, igniting cheers throughout the arena. The game is filled with heart-pounding
The US Department of Justice filed a major antitrust lawsuit on May 23 seeking to break up an alleged monopoly in the live music industry between concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, bookings website Ticketmaster.The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York, claims tha
對話 Dialogue清清:哇!福隆國際沙雕藝術季又開幕了!去年是與迪士尼百年慶典合作的,展場有各式各樣的迪士尼角色,還有皮克斯動畫系列等等的場景沙雕,今年的不知道怎麼樣。Qīngqing: Wa! Fúlóng Guójì Shādiāo Yìshùjì yòu kāimùle! Qùnián shì yǔ Díshìní bǎinián qìngdiǎn hézuò de, zhǎnchǎng yǒu gèshì gèyàng de Díshìní jiǎosè, háiyǒu Píkèsī dònghuà xìliè děngděng de chǎngjǐng shādiāo, jīnn
It’s certainly been a pleasure watching the presidential campaign launch of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Hou You-yi (侯友宜) lurch painfully about like a wounded pachyderm in search of an elephant graveyard. Hou’s fall to third place in some polls last week appears early, and it might still be recoverable. But grumbling in his party about replacing him has already begun. Indeed, all indications are that the party that twice gave us Lien Chan (連戰), the most despised politician in Taiwan, as a presidential candidate and later offered voters Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), is arcing along its normal descending trajectory, the North Korean missile test of electoral politics. A KIND OF POLICY PLATFORM Last week the KMT doubled down on this path with Hou’s calls for nuclear power and more death penalty executions, standard KMT fare for decades (the latter is unnecessary since so many potential criminals are likely to die in traffic accidents long before they harm anyone). Apparently KMT policy institutions are not echo chambers so much as mausoleums where dead ideas are embalmed and then periodically put on display. The lack of public policy imagination is obvious. A less obvious facet of KMT ineptitude: with years of speculation that Hou would be their man in 2024, neither Hou nor the party insisted on interesting or experimental public policies to showcase Hou’s greatness in preparation for the showdown. Of course, that is even more true of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Hou’s slide and the media buzz surrounding it are obscuring the truly urgent problem the pro-Taiwan side faces: DPP presidential candidate William Lai (賴清德) has not expanded his voter support beyond the party base. In most polls he remains below 40 percent. Independent voters are staying away in droves, and for the moment the young are turning to
July 17 to July 23 When Yeh Ken-chuang (葉根壯) came of age, the traditional skills of architecture and carpentry that had been in his family for four generations were disappearing. After helping his uncle Yeh Teh-ling (葉得令) construct ships, residences and temples for more than a decade, Yeh struck out on his own at the age of 28 in 1960 as a damusi (大木司, chief carpenter), earning his lifelong title “Chief Chuang” (壯司). Around this time, builders in his homeland of Penghu were increasingly using reinforced concrete instead of wood, due to the humid climate. The period also saw a frenzy in temple construction as the economy improved, meaning there was plenty of work for Yeh. Adept in non-structural techniques such as doors, windows and furniture, as well as the intricate carvings and detailed decorations that adorned the structures, Yeh was able to adapt his skills, leading the reconstruction of the historic Hsiliao Daitian Temple (西寮代天宮) on Penghu’s main island in 1963. According to the book Crossing Traditions in Yeh Ken-chuang’s Large-scale Carpentry Skills (宮廟巧藝 :跨越傳統的葉根壯大木作技術), it was Penghu’s first temple that used a purely reinforced concrete structure. Before his life was cut short, Yeh created more than 70 temples and related structures across the various islands of Penghu and left behind more than 230 building plans. Although Yeh could have built temples and other structures on Taiwan proper, he only worked on a handful of projects outside of Penghu because he wanted to be close to his family. CLAN OF CARPENTERS The Yeh family’s woodworking tradition began with Yeh Ma-li (葉媽利), who learned the architecture and carpentry trade from an unknown master on Kinmen. The Yehs trace their roots to Kinmen, although this branch had been living in Penghu since the early 1600s. Yeh Ma-li was Penghu’s chief temple builder between 1860 and
New Taipei City | 14-23 | 10% | |
Hsinchu County | 14-22 | 10% | |
Hsinchu City | 14-22 | 10% | |
Taipei City | 14-22 | 10% | |
Miaoli County | 12-22 | 10% | |
Taoyuan City | 14-22 | 10% | |
Keelung City | 15-21 | 10% |
Yunlin County | 14-24 | 0% | |
Taichung City | 14-24 | 0% | |
Nantou County | 14-24 | 0% | |
Changhua County | 14-23 | 0% |
Chiayi County | 13-24 | 0% | |
Chiayi City | 14-25 | 0% | |
Tainan City | 15-22 | 0% | |
Kaohsiung City | 17-23 | 0% | |
Pingtung County | 16-25 | 0% |
Yilan County | 14-22 | 10% | |
Hualien County | 16-22 | 10% | |
Taitung County | 17-23 | 10% |
Kinmen County | 11-18 | 0% | |
Penghu County | 17-20 | 0% | |
Lienchiang County | 10-13 | 10% |