China to host South Korean leader amid tensions with JapanReuters, SEOUL and BEIJINGChinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is to host South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on a state visit starting tomorrow, signaling Beijing’s intent to deepen ties with Seoul amidst strained relations with Tokyo over Taiwan. People hold Chinese and South Korean flags near Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30 last year. Photo: ReutersXi’s invitation to Lee for a state visit is a calculated move aimed at deepening bilateral relations, especially before the South Korean leader visits Japan, analysts said. About 28,500 US troops are based in South Korea to counter any threat from North Korea. South Korea earlier said it expects to address cooperation in areas including critical minerals, supply chain and green industries.

While the Constitutional Court can constitutionally have up to 15 justices, it currently only has eight, as opposition party legislators have twice blocked the appointment of seven new justices. Constitutional Court spokespeople address reporters at the court in Taipei today. Lin was indicted by the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office for contravening the Fire, Ammunition and Knives Control Act (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例), and the Pingtung District Court ordered his detention on Dec. 29, 2022. The Pingtung District Court later rejected a request by Lin’s attorney to revoke the detention, as it only bore the attorney’s signature and not the defendant’s. In today’s judgement, the Constitutional Court ruled this decision unconstitutional and said it should be annulled, remanding the case to the Pingtung District Court.

Ko urges support for artificial reproduction bill during legislative visitBy Hou Chia-yu and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAFormer Taiwan People's Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) today urged cross-party support for the party’s proposed amendments to the Artificial Reproduction Act (人工生殖法), which would legalize surrogacy as well as fertilization treatment for same-sex couples and single women. Photo: CNASpeaking at a news conference following a TPP meeting, Ko described the bill as a livelihood issue that should not be opposed for partisan reasons. "I am here to persuade the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the KMT to support the amendment," Ko said. The DPP has opposed the idea, leading to accusations from Chen that the party is putting politics above public welfare. The bill would extend eligibility to registered female same-sex couples and unmarried women to meet the needs of diverse family structures, she said.

Taiwan qualifies for 2027 Premier12 tournamentStaff writer, with CNATaiwan, the defending champions of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament, have secured a spot in next year's edition following the release of the latest official world rankings. Team Taiwan celebrate after beating Japan 4-0 in the WBSC Premier12 Championship Game at the Tokyo Dome on Nov. 24, 2024. Photo: CNAThey had 5,112 points, second only to Japan (6,676 points) and followed by the US, South Korea and Venezuela. The top 12 countries or regions on the year-end list earn direct eligibility for next year's tournament. The WBSC said it would announce details regarding the second qualification tournament at a later date.

Legislative Yuan passes motions condemning premier, NSC headBy Liu Wan-lin and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Legislative Yuan today passed two motions under the opposition’s majority condemning Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and requesting that National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) step down. Lawmakers hold up signs at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei today. Ho’s actions seriously threatened national security and diplomacy, but Wu has since evaded legislative oversight, harming Taiwan’s constitutional system, the proposal said. In its proposal regarding Cho, the TPP said the premier should bear the full responsibility for the Cabinet’s overall performance. “National interests are always above party interests, and party interests should never supersede the people’s interests,” it said.

One injured assisting crew of stranded carrier off HualienStaff writer, with CNAA rescue helicopter airlifted five people from a tugboat off Hualien yesterday, after a crew member was injured while trying to assist a drifting bulk carrier with five Filipino and 12 Taiwanese crew members. A helicopter airlifts crew members from a tugboat that was caught in a cable entanglement accident while attempting to assist a bulk carrier that went adrift due to mechanical failure off the coast of Hualien yesterday. An airlift was deemed necessary after rough sea conditions buffeted the tugboat, preventing the use of small boats to evacuate the crew, rescuers said. The helicopter arrived at about 3pm and airlifted all five crew members, including the semi-conscious Yu, 48, who was transported to a hospital for treatment immediately after the aircraft landed in Hualien, rescuers said. All 17 crew members on board the Panama-registered cargo ship owned by Taiwan's China Steel Corp remain safe with no injuries reported, and the vessel is in stable condition, the coast guard patrol team said.

Police rule out bullying as motive in MRT stabbingBy Liu Ching-hou and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAA special police task force investigating a deadly stabbing that occurred last month in Taipei has preliminarily ruled out bullying as a motive, saying that the suspect acted alone and intentionally committed suicide following the spree. Following the attack, prosecutors and police formed a special task force to investigate financial flows, Chang’s planning and his social connections. The fall was not an accident, but a deliberate jump to avoid prosecution, the task force said in its initial findings yesterday. The wording of the message subtly suggested possible bullying at school and during military service, police said. While examining Chang’s military service record, police discovered that during his time as a volunteer serviceman, he repeatedly asked how he could be discharged without facing severe disciplinary action.

Cold surge advisory in effect through tomorrowStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued cold surge advisories for the cities and counties across Taiwan, warning that temperatures could fall below 10°C. An "orange" cold advisory took effect for Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City and County, Miaoli County and Yilan County this morning and would remain in effect through tomorrow night amid a strong continental cold air mass, the CWA said. Photo courtesy of the Central Weather AdministrationThe minimum ground-level temperature is these regions could fall below 6°C, or the temperature would remain below 12°C for 24 hours. Scattered showers are also possible in mountainous parts of Hsinchu and Miaoli, and central Taiwan, it forecast. The cold air is expected to weaken during the day Sunday through Monday evening, before the weather turns clear and cold on Tuesday afternoon as another strong cold air mass moves southward, Wu said.

US urges Beijing to show restraint after drillsStaff writer, with CNAWashington yesterday urged Beijing to pull back on its campaign to pressure Taiwan militarily following its latest live-fire military drills around the nation held earlier this week. "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily," US Department of State principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. The flags of Taiwan and the US are displayed in Taipei on March 27, 2018. Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters"We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," Pigott said. A number of other countries have also voiced concerns over the latest Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) drills, including the EU, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

The San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, right, looks to secure possession during their NBA game against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday. While Wembanyama played a crucial role in the comeback win, Champagnie provided the offensive spark, unleashing an incredible three-point barrage to finish with 36 points. Champagnie’s blitz included four threes in the fourth quarter as San Antonio drew level before pulling clear. The San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama grips his leg after sustaining an injury during their NBA game against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday. I’m fine.”The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell reacts during their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday.

Bulgaria adopts euro, 20 years after joining EUAFP, SOFIABulgaria yesterday became the 21st country to switch to the euro as it entered the new year, a milestone met with cheers and fears, nearly 20 years after the Balkan nation joined the EU. At midnight, Bulgaria gave up the lev currency, which has been in use since the late 19th century, and Bulgarian euro coins were projected onto the central bank’s building. People hold euro banknotes as they celebrate New Year’s Day and Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro in front of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia yesterday. Revelers light sparklers as they celebrate the new year in front of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia yesterday, as Bulgaria officially adopted the euro. “The whole of Europe has managed with the euro, we’ll manage, too,” retiree Vlad said.

Revolutionary Guard killed in protestsGROWING: The protests, which started with shopkeepers in Tehran, spread to other provinces after students joined in earlier this week amid the rapid depreciation of the rialAP, DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesA volunteer member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp was killed in a western province during widening demonstrations sparked by the country’s ailing economy, authorities said yesterday, marking the first fatality among security forces during the protests. The state-run IRNA news agency reported on the Guard member’s death, but did not elaborate. An Iranian news agency called the Student News Network, believed to be close to the Basij, directly blamed demonstrators for the Guard member’s death, citing comments from Lorestan Province Deputy Governor Saeed Pourali. Another 13 Basij members and police officers sustained injuries, he added. Iran’s prosecutor general on Wednesday said that peaceful economic protests were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a “decisive response.”Additional reporting by AFP

Lockheed gets US$328.5 million Taiwan contractUNDER WAY: The contract for advanced sensor systems would be fulfilled in Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 2031, the Pentagon saidReuters, WASHINGTONLockheed Martin has been given a contract involving foreign military sales to Taiwan to meet what Washington calls “an urgent operational need” of Taiwan’s air force, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The contract has a ceiling value of US$328.5 million, with US$157.3 million in foreign military sales funds obligated at the time of award, the Pentagon said in a statement. “This contract provides for the procurement and delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor Pods, processors, pod containers and processor containers required to meet the urgent operational need of the Taiwan air force,” it said. Taiwan Mirage 2000 fighter jets prepare for takeoff at the Hsinchu Air Base on Monday. The announcement comes days after China staged massive military drills around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday.

Democracy in a constitutional fogBy Bonnie Yushih Liao 廖雨詩Taiwan has long been accustomed to political rivalry. Supporters argue that the move defends constitutional order; critics see it as an expansion of executive discretion. The opposition, while accusing the government of constitutional violations, has avoided invoking the most powerful legislative remedy — a no-confidence vote — mindful of the electoral uncertainty and political risk such a move entails. Citizens observe laws suspended in ambiguity, constitutional disputes unresolved and political leaders invoking democratic principles while avoiding decisive institutional action. If constitutional uncertainty is allowed to harden into routine, the consequences will not be immediate or spectacular.

Generations of Uighurs, the Turkic ethnic minority in China’s Xinjiang region, have played it at parties and weddings. Photo: APDuring the meeting, authorities warned residents that those who listened to banned songs, stored them on devices or shared them on social media could face prison. The prerecorded message gave the example of several people who had served 10 days in detention for being found with the banned songs. While at the police station, he said he spoke to others who had been summoned specifically for storing or sharing certain Uighur songs. “Because they sent each other a Uighur song on WeChat, they were arrested,” the former cadre said, referring to the teens.