Bangladesh women`s junior football team warm up during a training session at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Feb. 21. Several women’s soccer matches were canceled last year after pitch invasions and threats of violence. After years of building grassroots support for women’s football, the federation is starting to see a payoff. “We didn’t even have a national women’s team before 2008,” said Mahfuza Akter Kiron, 59, head of the BFF women’s wing. Organizers said that as progress in women’s soccer becomes evident, sponsors are beginning to show interest and people’s attitudes are shifting.

US has demanded NT$900bn defense budget, Lo saysBy Lin Hsin-han / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋) yesterday indirectly confirmed that the US had demanded the party propose a defense budget of approximately NT$900 billion (US$28.63 billion). Lo made the remarks in a radio interview when asked about the reported amount mentioned during a dinner on Saturday in Taipei between Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and KMT lawmakers. The headquarters of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in Taipei are pictured in an undated photograph. Sources said some KMT lawmakers have expressed frustration in private that they have no knowledge of the details of the party’s version of the bill. Sources said the bill is being personally managed by KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, who also doubles as head of the party’s Policy Committee.

‘Finalissima’ game suspended due to attack on IranReutersThe “Finalissima” match between Spain and Argentina in Doha is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes across the Arabian Peninsula. “Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday. The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region. The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League. Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability and killing the nation’s leadership.

Taiwan star takes silver in Singapore WTT Grand SmashStaff writer, with CNALin Yun-ju, Taiwan’s top-ranked male table tennis star, won silver on Sunday in the men’s singles at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash in Singapore. 1 Wang Chuqin of China, Lin earned a place on the podium and finished with acareer-best performance in a Grand Smash event. Lin Yun-Ju plays table tennis in an undated photograph. With the victory, Wang claimed his fifth WTT Grand Smash title, gaining 2,000 points and a cash prize of US$100,000. Earlier in the day, Lin had clinched a place in the final of the Grand Smash men’s singles for the first time, after defeating world No.

Nerdah’s Taiwan visit was in many ways an oddity. From interactions with Chinese business people in Myanmar, Nerdah says he’s come to fear for the nation’s future. When the Myanmar military later retrieved the soldiers’ remains, some of their hands were tied. AFTERMATHFollowing the incident, the KNU expelled Nerdah from the Karen military apparatus. We have to keep up with our relationship with Taiwan,” Nerdah said.

Businesspeople should be wary of China, MAC saysRISKS: In the past few years, foreign investors have significantly reduced or withdrawn their investments from China, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council saidBy Chung Li-hua / Staff ReporterThe Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Saturday issued its first economic risk warning for China this year, saying that Taiwanese businesses should evaluate carefully whether they conduct business there, due to economic loss and personal safety risks. A podium at the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. The MAC on Saturday issued the “2026 China Economic Risk Warning,” urging Taiwanese businesses to carefully assess the situation before doing business in China. Such developments are likely to intensify investment and operational risks for Taiwanese businesses operating in China, it added. Taiwanese businesses should be more vigilant toward the immense economic risks of investing in China and readjust their overseas layouts, it said.

Canadian senators eyeing trade deal with Taiwan‘LIKE-MINDED PARTNER’: Tako van Popta said it would be inappropriate to delay signing the deal with Taiwan because of China, adding he would promote the issue Canadian senators have stressed Taiwan’s importance for international trade and expressed enthusiasm for ensuring the Taiwan-Canada trade cooperation framework agreement is implemented this year. Representative to Canada Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) in an interview with the Central News Agency (CNA) said he was increasingly uneasy about Ottawa’s delays in signing the agreement, especially as Ottawa has warmed toward Beijing. There are “no negotiations left. Not only [is it] initialed, we have three versions of the text ready: English, French and Mandarin,” Tseng said. “That tells you how close we are to the final signature.” Tseng said that he hoped Canadian Prime Minister Mark CarneyBy Jake Chung

Changhua teacher sentenced for child molestationBy Chen Kuan-pei and Jason Pan / Staff reportersThe Taichung branch of the High Court has sentenced a Changhua County elementary-school teacher to four years and six months imprisonment after he was found guilty of inappropriately touching female students. He said he was trying to help her with chafing, claiming she had complained of discomfort from sweat and had given him permission, court documents showed. The teacher said he was attempting to help the students with hygiene and understanding their bodies, and also claimed he had Asperger syndrome, which impaired his judgement, court documents said. All three girls testified that they were afraid of the teacher and required counseling after the incidents, the documents said. In an earlier ruling, the Changhua District Court found the teacher guilty on three counts of committing an obscene act against a child younger than 14 under Article 227 of the Criminal Code.

Suspect arrested over threats to Taipei Main StationStaff writer, with CNAPolice have arrested a man suspected of sending threats to set fires, plant bombs and kill people at Taipei Main Station, the Railway Police Bureau said yesterday. Prosecutors have also secured court approval to detain the suspect, a Changhua County resident surnamed Kuo (郭), who police said admitted to making the threats due to stress. According to a statement from the bureau, Taiwan Railway Corp and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp received separate threats on Feb. 25 and 26 respectively. A suspect, surnamed Kuo, center, is escorted by Criminal Investigation Bureau agents in Changhua County on Friday. After analyzing digital evidence, investigators identified Kuo as a suspect, and police on Feb. 27 raided his residence in Changhua, taking him into custody.

National lantern festival to start tonightILLUMINATING: The Tourism Administration is considering holding the Taiwan Lantern Festival at a fixed location in future, potentially at scenic sites run by the administrationBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporter, Chiayi CountyThe annual Taiwan Lantern Festival is to begin tonight in Chiayi County, with an opening ceremony featuring performances by the air force, as well as Taiwanese and overseas artists. A 10m tall lantern featuring Nintendo’s iconic Mario character is pictured at the Taiwan Lantern Festival’s Super Mario-themed display in Chiayi County yesterday. The festival, previously known as the Taipei Lantern Festival, was first held at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in 1990. Since 2001, the festival has been named Taiwan Lantern Festival and held in a different locality each year. Hosting the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Hualien, Taitung, Penghu, Kinmen or Lienchiang (Matsu) counties would be challenging, Chen said.

The US’ Iran strikes are about China: researcherBy Chen Yun / Staff reporterThe US’ joint strikes with Israel on Iran dismantled a key pillar of China’s regional strategy, removing an important piece in Beijing’s potential Taiwan Strait scenario, said Zineb Riboua, a senior researcher at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Middle East Peace and Security. In an article titled: “The Iran Question Is All About China,” Riboua said that understanding the Iran issue in the context of China’s “grand strategy” is essential to fully grasp the complexity of the situation. The US’ “Epic Fury” operation highlights Washington’s recognition that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is eroding its deterrence in the Pacific, she said. “Iran is where Beijing’s Middle East architecture is most concentrated and most vulnerable,” she said. Targeting Iran would effectively remove a key piece from Beijing’s Taiwan Strait scenario, preventing the Middle East from becoming a secondary front in China’s broader plan, she said.

Ministry warns on KMT’s NHI proposalCONSIDERATIONS: The health ministry already provides subsidies for disadvantaged families, but a broader exemption could create budgetary problems, an expert saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterA National Health Insurance (NHI) premium exemption for children younger than six, reported to be proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus, should be carefully evaluated, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday. Photo: CNAThe ministry said that the government already provides subsidies to partially or fully cover premiums for economically disadvantaged families, ensuring universal access to healthcare. Moreover, the government provides medical subsidies for all children aged three and younger, and economically disadvantaged children younger than 18, it said. The subsidies for children younger than 18 also include those with catastrophic illness or who are eligible through assessments by local government social workers, it added. The system was established in “the spirit of mutual aid,” with the economically advantaged contributing more to help the disadvantaged, Hung said.

Groups to file suit to challenge LNG approvalBy Yang Yuan-ting and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerEnvironmental groups yesterday said they would file an administrative lawsuit after their appeal to revoke the approval of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Keelung was rejected. Led by the Protect Waimushan Action Group, the groups had sought to overturn an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the fourth LNG receiving terminal at Hsieh-ho Power Plant, but the Administrative Court in January dismissed the appeal. The groups said the assessment, approved last year, contained multiple inaccuracies and was hastily approved. Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei TimesThe Hsieh-ho Power Plant is Taiwan’s only heavy-oil-fired power plant. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the project’s potential impacts on marine ecology, port operations and navigation safety.

Beijing’s plan indicates its Taiwan policy, expert saysBy Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Taiwan policy is expected to become more “standardized,” an academic said yesterday. Photo: Reuters“This five-year plan should not be seen merely as an economic blueprint,” he said. Hung said that under this framework, China’s policy direction is clear: maintaining a firm grip on manufacturing, technology and supply chains, producing domestically wherever possible, and avoiding being “strangled” by external dependencies. Hung said that, over the next five years, China’s Taiwan policy is likely to increasingly include an emphasis on standards, procedures, qualifications and review mechanisms. Taiwan cannot rely solely on political statements in response to that, he said, adding that it must safeguard its autonomy through its own institutions.

Rare endangered orchid surviving after reintroductionBy Yang Yuan-ting and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writerCritically endangered orchids reintroduced to the wild have achieved a more than 70 percent survival rate over the past two years, the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (TBRI) said yesterday. Dendrobium linawianum — included in the institute’s Red List of Vascular Plants of Taiwan as critically endangered, as its wild population has shrunk to fewer than 200 plants — is a rarely seen indigenous orchid considered to be a valuable herb in traditional Chinese medicine. A Dendrobium linawianum orchid is pictured in an undated photograph. However, only five wild sightings have been recorded of the orchid over the past century, which were limited to New Taipei City and Miaoli County, it said. The plant’s population in the county is presumed to have disappeared, as it has been many years since the last sighting was reported in the region, the institute said.