Last month, Taiwan detected 190 such Chinese aircraft, the lowest monthly tally since the Ministry of National Defense began publishing detailed daily figures in 2022. A Chinese H-6 bomber, top, flies over the Bashi Channel near Taiwan as a Taiwanese F-16 approaches on Feb. 10, 2020. Neither China’s Taiwan Affairs ‌Office nor its Ministry of National Defense responded to requests for comment. Beijing could be using the lull to digest lessons from recent large drills, said a Taiwanese defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity. However, China's navy and coast guard remain active, according to the Ministry of National Defense, showing that Beijing has only dialed down its more politically sensitive air activity.

Slugger Lee Hao-yu withdraws ahead of WBC openerStaff writer, with CNAInfielder Lee Hao-yu, the Detroit Tigers' No. 6 prospect, today withdrew from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) due to health concerns, just hours before Taiwan's Pool C opener against Australia. The CPBL, which coordinated the national team roster, said in a statement that the Tigers made the final call to pull Lee from the tournament. Taiwan infielder Lee Hao-yu, right, the Detroit Tigers' No. Lee, 23, is a versatile infielder known for his slugging power at second and third base.

India opens first semiconductor assembly facilityNEW IDENTITY: Known for its software, India has expanded into hardware, with its semiconductor industry growing from US$38bn in 2023 to US$45bn to US$50bn India on Saturday inaugurated its first semiconductor assembly and test facility, a milestone in the government’s push to reduce dependence on foreign chipmakers and stake a claim in a sector dominated by China. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened US firm Micron Technology Inc’s semiconductor assembly, test and packaging unit in his home state of Gujarat, hailing the “dawn of a new era” for India’s technology ambitions. “When young Indians look back in the future, they will see this decade as the turning point in our tech future,” Modi told the event, which was broadcast on his YouTube channel. The plant would convert

Sudan accuses EthiopiaReutersSudan has accused Ethiopia of allowing drones to be launched from its territory into Sudan to carry out attacks since last month, the first time it has directly accused its neighbor of involvement in the three-year civil war. Sudanese General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, center, gestures during a rally in River Nile state in Sudan on July 13, 2019. The statement did not specify where the alleged attacks had taken place, but southeastern Blue Nile state, which borders Ethiopia, has seen small skirmishes and drone attacks in the past few weeks, according to eyewitnesses. The alleged drone attacks represent “a blatant violation of Sudanese sovereignty and an outright act of aggression against the Sudanese state,” the ministry said in the statement. Last month, Reuters exclusively reported that Ethiopia was hosting a secret camp to train thousands of fighters for the RSF.

Philippines, the southern anchor of TaiwanBy Regan Chong Sik YuAs a Hong Konger who has called Taiwan home for four decades and a proud citizen of this nation, I watched Beijing tighten its grip on Hong Kong until my birth territory had nothing left to lose. That bond is being formalized through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, swapping digital handshakes on cybersecurity, but the real magic is subsurface: Taiwan’s southern radars now hum in sync with northern Luzon. Second, Taiwan and the Philippines should establish a joint cybersecurity and sovereign data hub in Batangas — a coastal gateway about 100km south of Metro Manila. As China’s shadow lengthens, a fortified southern pillar in the Philippines is the price of remaining a free nation. Regan Chong Sik Yu is a Hong Konger advocating for Hong Kong’s independence from China and a contact person for the Hong Konger Front.

Prince Holding Group founder, Chinese-born Cambodian Chen Zhi (陳志), is facing up to 13 years in prison, as prosecutors seek a maximum sentence. Suspects in a money laundering case linked to Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group arrive at the Taipei District Court yesterday. Photo: CNAHe faces charges of money laundering, conspiracy, gambling, document forgery and contraventions of the Business Entity Accounting Act (商業會計法). The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday completed its investigation that began on Oct. 15 last year, which entailed eight search operations and resulted in the detention of nine people. Starting in 2016, he worked with a number of companies in Taiwan to establish a money laundering network, prosecutors said.

MOL to expand childcare subsidy scheme to encourage employer supportStaff Writer, with CNAMinistry of Labor (MOL) on Wednesday announced an expanded subsidy scheme aimed at encouraging businesses to provide more childcare support to employees, including higher subsidies for employer-provided childcare allowances, with foreign employees also eligible. “We have looked at the results of employer-provided childcare efforts so far and believe they have indeed been insufficient,” Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said at a press conference in Taipei. Hung said many business owners understand Taiwan’s low birthrate problem and are willing to help employees with childcare, “but they still face significant difficulties in terms of institutional support and resources.”Logo of the Ministry of Labor. The childcare allowance applies to employees with children from newborns to age 12, according to the ministry. “If a company offers the same benefit to all employees, including migrant workers, we will handle its subsidy application on the same basis,” Huang said.

Avoid extreme, harmful diets, weight experts sayWORLD OBESITY DAY: Proper diet, regular exercise and treatment by medical professionals are the three essential components of a healthy weight loss regimenBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNAA study conducted last year showed that more than 40 percent of Taiwanese who tried to lose weight resorted to “extreme diets” and other regimens that were harmful to health, a medical group said on World Obesity Day yesterday. Photo: Lo Bi, Taipei TimesMore than 90 percent of those who were overweight or obese in the study tried to rein in their weight through diet or exercise, the association said. However, 40 percent of them tried to lose weight through ill-advised diets, such as total abstention from carbohydrates or eating small-portion snacks in lieu of meals, it said. The study also showed that only 20 percent of those trying to lose weight sought professional advice, Lin said. The theme for this year’s World Obesity Day is “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity,” Shen said, calling on the society to directly confront the issue of obesity.

TPP-KMT platform to be released ahead of cooperationStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would announce a joint policy platform on Friday next week, which would be a prelude to a formal cooperation agreement ahead of the local elections in November, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said yesterday. The joint policy platform would be released during a news event in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District (新莊), Huang said in a statement issued after a meeting of the TPP’s central committee yesterday morning. The platform, which would cover issues including social welfare, housing justice, environmental sustainability and industrial development, would be the first part of a three-stage electoral cooperation plan, Huang said. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, left, answers reporters’ questions at a news conference in New Taipei City yesterday. The opposition TPP and KMT, as well as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have begun selecting their nominees.

MOFA tells China not to ‘meddle’ in evacuationsSTAY IN YOUR LANE: As the US and Israel attack Iran, the ministry has warned China not to overstep by including Taiwanese citizens in its evacuation orders The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday rebuked a statement by China’s embassy in Israel that it would evacuate Taiwanese holders of Chinese travel documents from Israel amid the latter’s escalating conflict with Iran. Tensions have risen across the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran beginning Saturday. China subsequently issued an evacuation notice for its citizens. In a news release, the Chinese embassy in Israel said holders of “Taiwan compatriot permits (台胞證)” issued to Taiwanese nationals by Chinese authorities for travel to China — could register for evacuation to Egypt. In Taipei, the ministry yesterday said TaiwanBy Huang Ching-hsuan, Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington

MODA to boost high-performance computing for AIBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe government is to purchase 100 more graphics processing units (GPUs) to boost Taiwan’s high-performance computing power that is essential to the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) said yesterday. Photo: CNAMinister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) said that the government was unable to boost the computing power last year because of a comprehensive budget cut. “Computing power is crucial to the development of the AI industry in Taiwan. Ministry of Economic Affairs data showed that Taiwan has sufficient electricity to build computing power centers, he said. Meta, which owns Facebook, has used 300,000 scam messages to train its AI system to flag scams,” Lin Yi-jing said.

Jaw says KMT leadership overstepping its authority‘RECKLESS CUTS’: The DPP expressed concerns about leaked opposition proposals omitting spending for the ‘T-Dome,’ saying it is like neutering the system helplessBy Lin Hsin-han and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters with staff writerChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) yesterday accused the party leadership of overstepping its authority, after KMT lawmakers were told to vote for a defense budget bill they had not reviewed. Jaw made the remarks at a conference with KMT lawmakers, where party members on key legislative committees said they had not seen the bill that the KMT-run National Policy Foundation drafted. From left, retired navy captain Huang Cheng-hui, retired air force lieutenant general Chang Yan-ting, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin, KMT “blue fighters” leader Jaw Shaw-kong, KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao and retired lieutenant general Wu Sz-huai pose for a group photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. KMT legislators Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) and Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) told Jaw that they have not seen the document. “An integrated air defense system for Taiwan is self-evidently important in the face of the relentless threat posed by China,” it said.

Foreign minister leads delegation to TuvaluBy Huang Ching-hsuan / Staff reporterMinister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday led a delegation to Tuvalu, one of Taiwan’s allies, as special envoy of the president, where the two nations would look at the results of Taiwan-Tuvalu cooperation in smart healthcare and smart agriculture, and engage in in-depth exchanges on topics such as digital technology, healthcare and climate change. In a Facebook post yesterday, Lin said he had arrived in Tuvalu to extend the government’s greetings to its precious ally. This is his third visit to the country, the minister added. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, left, shakes hands with young people in Tuvalu yesterday. Since taking office as minister of foreign affairs, Lin said he has promoted “integrated diplomacy” and launched the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to deepen partnerships with allies across all sectors.

Relieving stress key to sleeping better: doctorBy Esme Yeh / Staff writer, with CNAProlonged sleep during long holidays to compensate for sleep deprivation is a “fantasy,” a psychiatrist said, calling on people to prioritize relieving stress over sleeping more. Many people seek to flee from the burden of life by sleeping, and excessive sleep during holidays is an escape mechanism, Yang said. The issue is exacerbated by long holidays, during which people mess up their daily routine, he said. Staying up late and sleeping late on holidays would delay bedtime sleepiness and decrease daytime alertness, he said. “When we stop fighting against our life, sleep would come back sweetly,” Yang said.

MOFA tells China not to ‘meddle’ in evacuationsSTAY IN YOUR LANE: As the US and Israel attack Iran, the ministry has warned China not to overstep by including Taiwanese citizens in its evacuation orders The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday rebuked a statement by China’s embassy in Israel that it would evacuate Taiwanese holders of Chinese travel documents from Israel amid the latter’s escalating conflict with Iran. Tensions have risen across the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran beginning Saturday. China subsequently issued an evacuation notice for its citizens. In a news release, the Chinese embassy in Israel said holders of “Taiwan compatriot permits (台胞證)” issued to Taiwanese nationals by Chinese authorities for travel to China — could register for evacuation to Egypt. In Taipei, the ministry yesterday said TaiwanBy Huang Ching-hsuan, Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington