Tunisian president Kais Saied sacks his prime ministerAFP, TUNISTunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday sacked Najla Bouden as prime minister without explanation and replaced her with former central bank executive Ahmed Hachani, whom he tasked with overcoming the “colossal challenges” facing the cash-strapped north African country. No official explanation was given for Bouden’s dismissal, but several local media firms highlighted Saied’s displeasure over a number of shortages, particularly of bread in state-subsidized bakeries. New Tunisian Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani, right, and Tunisian President Kais Saied shake hands at the presidential palace of Carthage in Tunis on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFESaied immediately appointed in her place Hachani, who until then worked at the Tunisian central bank and studied law at the University of Tunis, where Saied taught. The new head of government, a figure unknown to the general public, was sworn in before the president, the presidency video said.

Ko has published two books, expounding his ideas to forge a new third political force in Taiwan, calling it “colorless,” or as a “white-color party,” and named them The White Power and The White Power II in English. Chang yesterday posted a message on social media saying Ko had written a book in 2014 that is on sale at online foreign platforms with the title The White Power, then followed up with a second book later that year, titled The White Power II. The TPP had to withdraw its slogan “Vote White, Vote Right,” due to the backlash from domestic media and Taiwan-based foreign journalists. The two books are still available online on international platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Wob with the title The White Power, Chang said. The TPP last week had to remove its slogan “Vote White, Vote Right” from its Web site following criticism about its resemblance to the language used by white supremacists.

From left, Brayden Sung, Audrey Sung and Jayden Sung pose for a photo before the Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Night at Eslite Performance Hall last Wednesday. Audrey Sung practices before the Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Night at Eslite Performance Hall last Wednesday. The three often do volunteer work together, such as helping at beach cleanups and playing for charity groups. Jayden Sung poses for a photo before the Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Night at Eslite Performance Hall last Wednesday. Brayden Sung poses for a photo before the Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Night at Eslite Performance Hall last Wednesday.

21 receipts win NT$10 million in May-June invoice lotteryStaff writer, with CNAA total of 21 receipts with the NT $10 million (US$317,460) special prize-winning number 29268886 were issued in May and June as part of Taiwan’s invoice lottery, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said yesterday. There were 16 receipts issued with the number 12912565 that won the invoice lottery’s NT$2 million grand prize, the MOF saidThe MOF released the winning invoice lottery numbers for the May-June period on July 25. The MOF releases the winning invoice lottery numbers for the May-June period on July 25. FamilyMart said it issued two receipts with the winning special prize number and one with the winning grand prize number. Hi-Life said it issued one receipt each with the special prize number and grand prize number, with the special prize receipt issued in Hukou Township in Hsinchu County for a purchase of NT$15.

Biden set to order curb on tech investment in ChinaEXECUTIVE ORDER: The investment controls are part of a broader effort by the White House to limit China’s capabilities to develop next-generation technologies US President Joe Biden is planning to sign an executive order to limit critical US technology investments in China by the middle of next month, according to people familiar with the internal deliberations. The order focuses on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It would not affect any existing investments and would only prohibit certain transactions. Other deals would have to be disclosed to the government. The timing for the order, slated for the second week of next month, has slipped many times before, and there is no guarantee it would not be delayed again, but internal discussions have already shifted from

The Liberty Times Editorial: Why Hou You-yi is losing supportAt the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) National Congress on Monday last week, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) was unanimously approved as the party’s candidate for next year’s presidential election. Hou and Han were elected as mayors in 2018, but the following year, Han set his sights on the presidency, while Hou kept out of it. All along, many nonaligned voters gave Hou the thumbs-up for his centrist approach. The attitude of those swing voters was bad for Han and Chu, but good for Hou, whose popularity kept climbing. At the time, at least one other politician took a cool view of the surging tide of support for Han.

Boosting Taiwan-UK economic tiesBy Huynh Tam SangDespite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, Taiwan and the UK have maintained long-standing and substantial trade ties, with London ranking as Taiwan’s 21st-largest trading partner globally and third-largest trading partner in Europe. For Taiwan and the UK, concrete steps toward making the ETP a reality demonstrates the shared vision of enhancing economic ties. There are vast opportunities for Taiwan and the UK to strengthen economic ties. Taiwan is Britain’s largest offshore wind market in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 30 British offshore wind firms establishing operations there. In post-EU Britain, London should align its Indo-Pacific engagement with economic tradecraft, and strengthening economic ties with Taiwan, notably through an ETP, should be a crucial part of Britain’s grand strategy.

TPP drops controversial sloganStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday decided to remove a controversial slogan — “Vote White, Vote Right” — from its Web site after the wording was criticized as being similar to that used by US white supremacist groups. TPP spokeswoman Lin Tzu-yu (林子宇) told a news conference that the slogan had referred to the color white that the TPP brands itself with. A screen grab from the Taiwan People’s Party’s English-language Web site is pictured on Sunday. Hale said the slogan is the same as that used by a now long-defunct US white supremacist party. Founded in 1958 by Edward Reed Fields in Knoxville, Tennessee, the party was built on antisemitism, racism and opposition to integration, and was known for its “Vote Right — Vote White” slogan before its dissolution in 1987.

EDITORIAL: Ko and his tone-deaf ‘white’ partyJust when you thought that former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and his Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) could not be any more tone deaf, they leave everyone dumbstruck with another inexplicable exploit. As the commenters pointed out, the phrase would immediately be understood as supportive of far-right white supremacist politics, which is not what the party intended. As some commenters said, not even Trump would dare mouth such a blatantly white supremacist slogan. In its defense, it said Taiwan does not have the concept of white supremacy, and that the implication was unintended. Putting aside that the tendrils of white supremacy reach everywhere, manifesting most commonly in Taiwan as white privilege, this incident reflects extremely poorly on the TPP for multiple reasons.

US act: Taiwan belongs to the worldBy Su Wei-cheng 蘇緯政On Tuesday last week, the US House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, which is to proceed to the US Senate for a review. The law is of great significance to Taiwan’s international participation. Taiwan belongs to the world, not exclusively to China. Even if China continues to threaten and oppress Taiwan, this would not shake our determination to walk toward the world. Meanwhile, with the international community’s firm support for the country, Taiwan is to definitely become a key force for peace, prosperity and sustainable development in the region and the world.

EDITORIAL: Taiwan economy growing confidentlyThe Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DBGAS) on Friday lowered its GDP growth estimate for the April-to-June quarter to 1.48 percent on an annual basis, down from the 1.82 percent expansion it predicted in May, as two major GDP components — net exports and gross capital formation — continued to contract. Moreover, the latest data indicated the economy also rebounded from a technical recession in the previous two quarters, underlining recovering growth momentum in the economy, albeit weaker than expected. The central bank last month trimmed its projection for Taiwan’s GDP growth for this year from 2.21 percent to 1.72 percent. The stronger-than-expected domestic demand came as the economy continued to add jobs, services demand recovered further and the tourism sector remained vibrant. It is unusual that domestic demand in Taiwan could help offset the negative effects of slowing external demand so strongly, as seen in the second quarter.

Gasoline prices to rise NT$0.5; diesel down NT$0.1By Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterGasoline prices are to increase by NT$0.5 per liter this week as global crude oil prices moved higher last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said in separate statements yesterday. Crude oil prices rose last week after Goldman Sachs Group Inc predicted the oil market would be in short supply in the second half of the year, CPC said. Based on CPC’s floating oil price formula, the cost of crude oil increased 4.13 percent from a week earlier, it said. Gasoline prices at CPC and Formosa stations are today to increase to NT$30.3, NT$31.8 and NT$33.8 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, the companies said. However, the price of premium diesel is to drop NT$0.1 per liter to NT$28.0 at CPC stations and to NT$27.8 at Formosa pumps after the companies factored in their oil price formulas, domestic market competition and global market trends, they said.

Wushu athlete wins gold for Taiwan in ChengduStaff writer, with CNAWushu athlete Sun Chia-hung yesterday won Taiwan’s first gold at the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China. Sun won silver in the taijijian on Saturday. Taiwan’s Sun Chia-hung competes in the ISU World University Games men’s taijiquan event in Chengdu, China, yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation via CNAMeanwhile, Taiwanese archers won a silver and two bronzes. Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation“[I’m] very happy to win the team event’s silver medal with the seniors.

Mayor Chiang’s forum of ironiesBy Huang Wei-ping 黃惟冰The 2023 Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum is scheduled for next month in Shanghai. It will be the 14th forum since it was launched in 2010, and also the first in which Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) participates as Taipei mayor. It is unclear exactly how beneficial the twin-city forum has been to the residents of Taipei over the course of the past decade or so. By all appearances, it has become little more than a stage for the Taipei mayor to build personal relations with the other side of the Taiwan Strait. If the twin-city forum was really for the city’s and its residents’ benefit, would the council have opposed it?

Niger general declares himself leaderRESPONSE: While the US pledged ‘unflagging’ support for the detained president, the head of Wagner hailed the coup and offered his fighters’ services to help bring orderAFP, NIAMEYThe Niger general who staged a coup on Friday declared himself the new leader of the African nation and said that any foreign military intervention would lead to chaos. Nigerien General Abdourahamane Tchiani speaks on national television in a screen grab from national broadcaster ORTN Tele Sahel on Friday. West African leaders are today to meet in the capital, Abuja, to discuss the coup, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said. “ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the region,” Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, said in a statement. “What happened in Niger is nothing other than the struggle of the people of Niger with their colonizers.