Bulgaria’s euro moment hurt by political turmoilBy Slav Okov, Andrea Dudik and Irina Vilcu / BloombergIt is hard to ignore Bulgaria’s heart-on-sleeve embrace of the EU. The switch is meant to crown almost two decades of integration after Bulgaria joined the EU and then its Schengen customs-free travel zone. The EU has repeatedly criticized Bulgaria’s failure to improve rule of law and its low efficiency in probing high-ranking officials for corruption. However, unlike in Hungary, Poland or Slovakia, pro-EU parties have dominated the political scene in Bulgaria, affording them some protection. “Those parties have consistently leveraged their standing within their European political families as a form of external validation and whitewashing,” said Goran Georgiev, senior analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy, an independent think tank in Sofia.

Taiwan invasion would cost China massively: US think tankBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerConflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released yesterday. The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) yesterday released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. It details how a minor conflict or a major war scenario would affect the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in contingencies expected to occur between this year and 2030. As for the international costs, a major conflict could set China back “decades on the global stage,” it says. However, Chinese leaders would likely view the international implications of a minor conflict as “manageable,” it says.

Court sentences ex-coast guard member for spyingBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Kaohsiung branch of the High Court today sentenced a former member of the coast guard to seven years and eight months in prison for leaking national and military secrets to China for almost two years, earning more than NT$580,000 (US$18,403) in criminal proceeds. The defendant, surnamed Lee (李), was suspended after the case came to light, the Coast Guard Administration said, adding that he later resigned. Lee had served as a member of the coast guard’s southern fleet branch since 2022, the court said in a statement. Although driven by his family’s financial needs, Lee’s actions endangered national security and damaged public morale in the defense of freedom and democracy, the court said. The court found him guilty of breaching his duties by accepting bribes and intentionally endangering national security by delivering confidential documents, electronic records and state secrets to China.

Taiwan hopes for smooth democratic transition in Venezuela: MOFABy Chen Yu-fu and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan hopes that Venezuela can smoothly and peacefully transition to a democratic system and wishes to further bilateral relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said today. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei speaks to reporters at a news conference in Taipei today. Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei TimesThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring Venezuela’s economic and political situation, domestically and internationally, to ensure that it can respond swiftly if necessary. That includes the role of Venezuela in international drug trafficking and the humanitarian crisis caused by its authoritarian rule, which has long affected local and regional stability, the ministry said. Taiwan is also working to protect and assist its citizens in Venezuela, it said.

China's drills reveal ‘unacceptable attitude’: European lawmakerStaff writer, with CNAThe military exercises China staged around Taiwan last week were provocative and revealed Beijing's "unacceptable attitude," threatening "peaceful coexistence across the Taiwan Strait," Member of the European Parliament Michael Gahler said today. Michael Gahler, member of the European Parliament and chairman of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group, speaks at the Presidential Office in Taipei today. Photo: CNAIt is important for the European Parliament and democracies worldwide to speak out for maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, a condition China has attempted to alter, he said. The international community has strongly condemned Beijing's "belligerent and aggressive posture" as witnessed in last week's large-scale military drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan, Gahler said. "This is such a provocation, and an unacceptable attitude that endangers the peaceful coexistence across the Strait," he said.

Legislature passes draft act protecting delivery workers’ rightsBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of a draft act protecting delivery workers’ rights and managing delivery platforms, stipulating that, per delivery, workers must earn at least 1.25 times the minimum hourly wage, or a minimum of NT$45. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei TimesThe draft act requires delivery platforms to pay workers at least twice a month and provide clear payment statements showing how earnings and deductions are calculated. Platforms must provide contracted delivery workers with accident and liability insurance, and workers cannot deliver until insured, the draft says. Establishing a minimum wage, insurance and grievance mechanisms under the law would clarify the rights and responsibilities of platforms and delivery workers, Taiwan Delivery Industry Rights Promotion Alliance spokesperson Su Pai-hao (蘇柏豪) said. It not only protects workers’ rights, but is key to the healthy and sustainable growth of the industry, Su said.

New scratch card games offer NT$12.8bn in prizesStaff writer, with CNATaiwan Lottery Co today launched five new scratch card games to mark the Lunar New Year that offer more than NT$12.8 billion (US$405.81 million) in prizes. The “NT$12 Million Grand Fortune” scratch card game is advertised on Taiwan Lottery Co’s Web site. Photo courtesy of Taiwan Lottery CoAll five games are available from today through July 6. Tickets for the game "NT$12 Million Grand Fortune" cost NT$1,000 and offer the highest top prize among the new scratch cards, Taiwan Lottery said. It features eight top prizes of NT$12 million and 200 second prizes of NT$1 million, both record highs, with an overall win rate of 70 percent, it said.

Cold surge warning issued for most of TaiwanStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued cold surge advisories for 18 cities and counties across Taiwan, warning of lows below 10°C through tomorrow night. A "yellow" alert for minimum temperatures below 10°C was issued for the rest of the country, except Hualien and Taitung counties in eastern Taiwan and outlying Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties. Photo: Taipei Times file photoThe cold weather is due to the arrival of a strong continental cold air mass, combined with radiative cooling, which describes the release of heat from the ground into the atmosphere, the CWA said. Taiwan would remain under the combined influence of the cold air mass and radiative cooling through Thursday, CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said on Monday. While the cold air is expected to weaken slightly on Friday and Saturday, radiative cooling would continue to keep temperatures low, he said.

Starlux receives Taiwan's first Airbus A350-1000Staff writer, with CNAStarlux Airlines today became the first airline in Taiwan to take delivery of an Airbus A350-1000 aircraft when the wide-body plane with Starlux livery arrived in Taiwan. The aircraft, registered as B-58551, was yesterday delivered to a team led by Starlux Chairman Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, the company said in statement late last night. Starlux Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 aircraft takes off from Toulouse yesterday. With the latest addition, Starlux operates 30 aircraft, which also include 10 A350-900s, six A330neos and 13 A321neos. Though Starlux was the first Taiwanese airline to take delivery of the A350-1000, it is not the only local carrier interested in the plane.

Louisa Coffee to raise prices tomorrowStaff writer, with CNACoffeehouse chain Louisa Coffee (路易莎咖啡) from tomorrow is to raise the prices of about 90 items on its menu by an average of 5 percent, the company's management said today. The price hike was necessitated by the rising cost of ingredients, materials, labor and electricity, Louisa Coffee said in a statement. A Louisa Coffee store is pictured in an undated photograph. Overall, the prices of about 90 items on the menu would rise by an average of 5 percent. Launched in Taipei in 2006, Louisa Coffee has become one of Taiwan's largest coffeehouse chains, offering cheaper prices than its main rival, Starbucks.

Australian cricket great Martyn wakes from comaAFP, SYDNEYAustralian Test great Damien Martyn has woken from an induced coma following meningitis, with ex-teammate Adam Gilchrist on Sunday calling it “a miracle.”The 54-year-old Martyn, who played 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006, and 208 one-day internationals, fell seriously ill late last month and was rushed to hospital. The former batsman was diagnosed with meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Australian batsman Damien Martyn gestures after scoring 50 against Sri Lanka during their one-day cricket match in Melbourne on Jan. 13, 2006. Known as one of the game’s great strokemakers, Martyn became a key figure in Steve Waugh’s all-powerful Australian side, hitting 13 centuries and averaging 46.37. Martyn retired in 2006 during the Ashes series and had kept a low profile since.

Taiwan’s top two male shuttlers to face off in MalaysiaStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s two top-ranked badminton players are to compete against each other this afternoon in the opening round of the Malaysia Open men’s singles this week, the first tournament of the new season. The BWF Super 1000 tournament is scheduled to run from today to Sunday at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The draw features a high-stakes clash between Taiwanese veteran Chou Tien-chen and rising star Lin Chun-yi, ranked No. The Malaysia Open is the first event on the year, starting just two weeks after the end of the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals. Taiwanese badminton player Chou Tien-chen gestures during the Taipei Open tournament on May 11 last year.

Man Utd sack manager Ruben AmorimRIFT: At a news conference after their match against Leeds United on Sunday, an irate Amorim told the scouting department and sporting director ‘to do their job’AFP, LONDONRuben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager 14 months after arriving at Old Trafford, the club announced yesterday. Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after their English Premier League match against West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on May 11 last year. Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma makes a save against Chelsea during their English Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Sunday. McFarlane would never forget his first senior match as a manager after frustrating the decorated Guardiola. Ben Davies put Spurs in front, but they were unable to hold out for just a second home league win since the opening weekend of the season.

Pilots score rematch win over Black BearsStaff writer, with CNAThe Taoyuan Pauian Pilots are on the verge of qualifying for the East Asia Super League (EASL) playoffs after defeating the Macau Black Bears 95-83 on Sunday. In Sunday’s rematch game after a contest three weeks earlier, the Pilots secured their fourth consecutive victory of this season. After the game, Pilots head coach Iurgi Caminos said it was a tough win, as the team failed to secure rebounds and allowed the Black Bears too many uncontested shots in the first half. He also said that there were some struggles at the charity stripe, with the Pilots shooting just 11-of-25 (44 percent) from the free-throw line, while the Black Bears shot 14-of-19. Among the five Black Bears players who scored double-digit points, Omari Peek-Green led with 25 points.

Fury announces another comeback from retirementReutersFormer lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Sunday said that he would come out of retirement this year for his first fight since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024. Fury announced his retirement after losing a rematch with Ukraine’s Usyk, who had won by split decision in their first bout to become the undisputed champion. Usyk is the only boxer to beat Fury in the Briton’s professional career, which includes 34 wins, two losses and one draw. Fury again announced retirement in 2022, only to come back six months later. “If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is ... step in the ring with me next, if you’re a real bad boy.