Sun, Apr 28, 2024
President-elect William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said he has agreed to hold a national health forum every year on April 27 to review achievements and discuss improvements that could be made to the healthcare sector, while pledging to build a healthy Taiwan.Lai was speaking in Taipei at the last session o
MAKING A POINT? The incursions came a day after Antony Blinken discussed Taiwan with Xi Jinping and as the US and Philippines conduct joint military drills Taiwan yesterday reported renewed Chinese military activity near the nation, with 12 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait the day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his visit to China.“We detected activities from 22 PLA aircraft
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Huang Jie (黃捷) has proposed an amendment to the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) that would allow the government to demand that digital stores issue warnings about, remove or ban applications that present possible information security risks.Huang s
Russia launched a “massive” missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country’s energy supply, officials in Kyiv said yesterday, after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Friday announced that the US would provide Ukraine with additional
Hamas yesterday said it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Palesti
MANAGING DIFFERENCES: In a meeting days after the US president signed a massive foreign aid bill, Antony Blinken raised concerns with the Chinese president about Taiwan US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of “responsibly managing” the differences between the US and China as the two sides butt heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global
Chip testing and packaging service provider King Yuan Electronics Co (京元電子) yesterday said it plans to divest its Chinese subsidiary amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a US-China trade dispute that led to a drastic shuffle of the global semiconductor supply chain landscape.Intensifying compet
WARFARE: The PLA aims to use space-based capabilities to enhance its force projection to make the Indo-Pacific region too costly for the US to protect, experts said China is rapidly building space capabilities to be able to launch precision strikes on Taiwan, the US and its allies, US Space Force leaders said at a recent conference in London.China is developing counterspace warfare capabilities including GPS jamming systems and anti-satellite missiles at “breat
IN TAIPEI: The Taiwanese side is to be led by Deputy Trade Representative Jenni Yang, and involve officials from several ministries, including labor and agriculture A new round of in-person negotiations between Taipei and Washington over the US-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative is scheduled to take place from Tomorrow to Friday in Taipei, the Office of Trade Negotiations announced on Friday.The talks are to focus on bilateral cooperation in fields such as la
A legislative delegation led by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) met with Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Wang Huning (王滬寧) in Beijing yesterday.Wang hailed the delegation’s visit at the start of Taiwan’s legislative session as a significant an
Multinational companies in Taiwan should pay attention to legislation proposed by the opposition pertaining to whistle-blowing and plans to criminalize “contempt of the legislature,” the European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan said in an analysis published on the chamber’s Euroview Web site on Tuesda
A lawmaker has proposed a legal amendment to transfer authority to demarcate prohibited and restricted waters off Taiwan proper and Taiwan-controlled outlying islands from the defense ministry to the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), saying that it would augment law enforcement in those areas.Chinese Nat
HIGHER RISK: The study, which was also covered by CNN, confirmed that treatment-resistant depression could be inherited through genes and that it is a physical illness Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) could be genetically passed on, a study by Taipei Veterans General Hospital showed.The study showed that first-degree relatives of patients with TRD are two or three times more likely to have other mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive
Descendants of Frederick Coyett, the last Dutch governor-general of Formosa, yesterday visited the Koxinga Shrine (延平郡王祠) in Tainan to give thanks for showing mercy to their ancestor 400 years after the Dutch began their occupation of Taiwan proper.Cheng Cheng-kung (鄭成功), also known as Koxinga, was
The Taipei Department of Labor on Friday reminded employers to protect their workers’ “right to disconnect,” adding that companies should pay overtime if they send messages to employees after work.The department last year was the first in the nation to release a set of guidelines for institutions re
Retired Hong Kong e-sports player Kurtis Lau Wai-kin (劉偉健), also known as “Toyz,” faces a jail sentence of more than four years after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against a conviction for trafficking and selling marijuana.Lau’s prison sentence of four years and two months was in December la
Diagnosed with autism, Shoko Sakuma said she struggled working in accounting, but is now putting her childhood love of drawing to work in a special Japanese animation studio.The groundbreaking initiative aims to provide job training and confidence to people with autism who can find it hard to cope i
The world is on the cusp of a neurotechnology revolution that could transform human health and welfare, but urgent action is needed to protect brain data, experts said on Friday.Medical neurotechnology breakthroughs have allowed paralyzed people to walk again, or deaf people to hear.Elon Musk’s Neur
On a recent weeknight at a bar in northeast Portland, Oregon, fans downed pints and burgers as college women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball matches played on big-screen TVs. Memorabilia autographed by female athletes covered the walls, with a painting of US soccer legend Abby Wambach mounted above
President-elect William Lai (賴清德) on Monday promised to accelerate the development of geothermal and hydrogen energy sources as part of a push toward meeting net zero emissions aims. Lai said his administration would aim to maximize the use of green energy in Taiwan, implement carbon capture and sto
On April 11, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a speech at a joint meeting of the US Congress in Washington, in which he said that “China’s current external stance and military actions present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge … to the peace and stability of the int
Former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) used to push for reforms to protect Taiwan by adopting the “three noes” policy as well as “Taiwanization.” Later, then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) wished to save the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) by pushing for the party’s “localization,” hoping to compete
SUNS ON BRINK: The Pacers won in overtime over Milwaukee to take a 2-1 series lead, while Phoenix were one loss away from exiting after falling to the Timberwolves Luka Doncic on Friday had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the defensive-minded Dallas Mavericks had a chippy 101-90 victory over the LA Clippers to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.During a sequence of three-pointers from James Harden, Doncic called out to his coaches, saying t
The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on Friday continued to cause the Los Angeles Kings’ nightmares, and the rest of the Oilers’ lineup is beginning to add to the Kings’ frustrations.McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights, while Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the star
Carlos Alcaraz did not need to put his tender right arm to the test on Friday while easing to victory in his opening match at the Madrid Open.The two-time defending champion was playing for the first time in nearly a month after his injured arm ruled him out of Monte Carlo and Barcelona.After doubti
The Wellington Hurricanes’ unbeaten start in Super Rugby Pacific ended yesterday when they lost 27-19 to the ACT Brumbies in Round 10.A week after losing 46-7 to the second-placed Auckland Blues (8 wins, 1 loss, 36 points) — who won 41-34 over the sixth-placed Queensland Reds (4-5, 22) later yesterd
UKRAINE-LINKED TARGETS: Five have been charged and the government summoned the Russian ambassador over a fire that required 60 firefighters to bring under control A 20-year-old British man has been charged with masterminding an arson plot against a Ukrainian-linked target in London for Russia and Moscow’s ambassador was summoned by the government, authorities said on Friday.“Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack o
SQUASHING STORIES: David Pecker said that he paid US$30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman and US$150,000 to a ‘Playboy’ model who said she had an affair with Trump Former US president Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial wrapped up for the week on Friday following four days of testimony by a colorful former tabloid publisher who said he suppressed potentially damaging stories about Trump. Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his
Does Argentine President Javier Milei communicate with a ghost dog whose death he refuses to accept? Forced to respond to questions about his mental health, the president’s office has lashed out at “disrespectful” speculation.Twice this week, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni was asked about Mile
April 29 to May 5One month before the Taipei-Keelung New Road (北基新路) was set to open, the news that US general Douglas MacArthur had died, reached Taiwan. The military leader saw Taiwan as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” that was of huge strategic value to the US. He’d been a proponent of keeping i
My previous column Donovan’s Deep Dives: The powerful political force that vanished from the English press on April 23 began with three paragraphs of what would be to most English-language readers today incomprehensible gibberish, but are very typical descriptions of Democratic Progressive Party (DP
Years ago, I was thrilled when I came across a map online showing a fun weekend excursion: a long motorcycle ride into the mountains of Pingtung County (屏東) going almost up to the border with Taitung County (台東), followed by a short hike up to a mountain lake with the mysterious name of “Small Ghost
White coats are commonly worn by doctors, but there is another type of clothing typically found in hospitals. This plain-looking clothing is known as scrubs. Scrubs are made up of a loose-fitting top and comfortable pants with an elastic waistband. They were originally designed to protect wearers fr
A symbol of purity and cleanliness, the color white is the standard color for coats worn by doctors. While this has been the case for well over 100 years, it hasn’t always been so. In fact, before the late 19th century, doctors wore formal black attire, which was similar to that worn by clergymen. B
A: So who were Hollywood’s highest-paid stars of 2023?B: No. 5 to No. 2 were: Matt Damon with US$43 million, Ryan Gosling with US$43 million, Tom Cruise with US$45 million, and Margot Robbie with US$59 million.A: Didn’t Tom Cruise top the list?B: Nope, Adam Sandler was No.1, having made US$73 mi
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% |