HK reporter discusses decline in press freedom
HK reporter discusses decline in press freedomBy Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerYoung people studying journalism and communication in Hong Kong no longer aspire to become reporters after graduation, according to Kwan Chun-hoi (關震海), the founder of independent news outlet Hong Kong Feature (誌). Kwan Chun-hoi, founder of Hong Kong news outlet Hong Kong Feature, poses for a photograph in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei Times“The goal of Hong Kong Feature is to leave behind diverse records of Hong Kong. “If something absolutely must be discussed, it would not be done in Hong Kong,” he said. “If Hong Kong has less freedom than before, then the journalistic spirit is even more necessary now,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Plane loses tire landing at Taoyuan Airport
Plane loses tire landing at Taoyuan AirportBy Shelley Shan / Staff ReporterThe Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday that it would launch investigations into an incident involving a T’way Air plane that lost a tire when landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Sunday and three flights that sent distress signals afterwards. The tire failure occurred at 3:52pm as flight TW687 from Jeju Island, South Korea, landed, Taoyuan International Airport Corp said. A T’way Air plane is pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Sunday. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesThe incident caused the airport to temporarily close the north runway to locate the missing tire and to ensure that the runway and ground lighting system were not damaged. Separately, seven flights that were scheduled to land in Taoyuan were diverted to Taichung, Kaohsiung, and China’s Shantou and Wenzhou cities due to bad weather conditions, the airport said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Lai congratulates Takaichi on victory
Lai congratulates Takaichi on victoryLANDSLIDE WIN: Wishing the Japanese leader the best, the president said that he looks forward to working with her to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific regionStaff writer, with CNAPresident William Lai (賴清德) on Sunday night congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on their historic landslide victory in Japan’s general election earlier in the day. The decisive win “clearly demonstrates the trust and expectations of Japanese voters for Sanae Takaichi’s leadership and vision,” Lai wrote in Chinese and Japanese on X. As Taiwan and Japan continue to face regional challenges, Lai said he looks forward to working with Takaichi, based on shared values and the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, to jointly promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), places a red paper rose on the name of an elected candidate at the LDP headquarters on general election day in Tokyo on Sunday. The LDP and its coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party jointly won 352 seats.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Taiwan not moving 40% of chip production to US: vice premier
Taiwan not moving 40% of chip production to US: vice premierStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese trade negotiators told Washington that Taipei would not relocate 40 percent of its semiconductor production to the US, and that its most advanced technologies would remain in the nation, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said on Sunday. “I told the US side, we can’t distribute production capacity, but we can expand our layout in the US,” she said. Taiwan’s science parks would not be relocated to the US, she said, adding that she had made it clear during negotiations that Taiwan’s most advanced semiconductor technology would not be transferred to other countries. Taiwanese semiconductor companies “will only rationally expand their investments to other countries after they have set up factories in Taiwan and confirmed they can mass produce,” Cheng said. For that reason, the most advanced R&D and manufacturing processes must be “carried out first in Taiwan,” she added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Taiwan congratulates Thailand on election
Taiwan congratulates Thailand on electionStaff writer, with CNAThe government yesterday congratulated Thailand on the completion of its general election on Sunday, in which the country’s ruling conservative party secured a solid victory. The election was held to fill all 500 seats in the Thai House of Representatives, including 400 constituency seats and 100 party-list seats. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reacts as he arrives at Thai Government House in Bangkok yesterday. The ministry said Taiwan and Thailand have long maintained close and cordial ties in areas including trade, investment, tourism, culture and education. Building on this foundation, Taiwan looks forward to further deepening cooperation across various fields under Thailand’s new government and parliament, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
PLA flight data indicate shift in training: experts
The PLA last month sent an average of 5.4 aircraft per day across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to data from the Ministry of National Defense. A map shows the sighting of a Chinese balloon near Taiwan in the 24 hours that ended at 6am yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense“More experienced pilots can now devote more time to tactical training, rather than training aimed at increasing individual flight hours,” he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has been conducting a purge of the military’s top ranks, most recently taking down the nation’s top general. Those developments were probably unrelated to recent training activity by PLA warplanes, said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Overpopulation, not fences, biggest threat to deer
The Kenting National Park Administration said the footage was from several years ago and does not reflect current conditions. A dead sika deer is pictured trapped under netting and a fence in Pingtung County in an undated photograph. The park administration said it contacted the original poster and determined that most of the videos were filmed years ago and the locations were unclear. The park administration acknowledged limitations in fencing, but said overpopulation remains the core problem. The wild sika deer population in Kenting is estimated to exceed 3,600, far beyond the area’s ecological carrying capacity, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Car crashes lead cause of child deaths
Car crashes lead cause of child deathsMORTALITY RATES More than 100 children or teenagers were killed last year in car crashes, although correct use of child car seats can help cut fatality risk substantiallyBy Yang Mien-chieh / Staff ReporterCar crashes were the leading cause for child mortality and injuries last year, according to a study released by the Jing Chuan Child Safety Foundation yesterday. Jing Chuan Child Safety Foundation executive director Hsu Ya-jen speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei TimesAs in 2024, car crashes remained the main cause of deaths and injuries of children and teenagers, with 164 children killed or injured in 114 crashes. They were followed by 49 deaths and injuries caused by negligence, 46 deaths or injuries by fire, and 18 deaths or injuries from games and toys, the foundation said. Studies showed that correct use of child safety car seats can reduce the impact on children’s necks by 73 percent and lower their chances of death by 71 percent, Hsu said, adding that safety would be elevated by 75 percent if child car seats are installed aft-facing.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Taiwan to freeze fuel prices over LNY, gas rates through February
Taiwan to freeze fuel prices over LNY, gas rates through FebruaryStaff writer, with CNAThe Executive Yuan said yesterday it would freeze gasoline and diesel prices from Feb. 16 to 23 to help stabilize prices around the Lunar New Year holiday in Taiwan, and keep natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices unchanged until the end of February. A scooter rider fills their tank at a CPC, Taiwan gas station in Taipei in an undated photograph. This includes ensuring fuel prices at CPC Corp, Taiwan stations can fall but not rise during the holiday period and maintaining current prices for car wash services at CPC- operated gas stations. The Cabinet said the MOEA found prices for popular Lunar New Year dishes to be stable at both chain retailers and traditional markets. The Cabinet added that the MOEA has maintained close communication with retailers and encouraged the creation of discount sections.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Lai seeks meeting with heads of government
Lai seeks meeting with heads of governmentRECONCILIATION? Karen Kuo said that while the meeting is planned, it requires coordination due to the heavy workloads of each government branchBy Chen Yun and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerPresident William Lai (賴清德) has invited the heads of each branch of government to a meeting after the Lunar New Year, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said yesterday. Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo is pictured in Taipei in an undated photograph. Kuo confirmed that while the meeting is planned, it would require careful coordination due to the heavy workloads of each branch. While political parties might hold differing positions, the country is one,” she said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Pension protest
Taipei Zoo home to rare, seasonally appropriate critterTaipei Zoo welcomes the Lunar New Year this year through its efforts to protect an endangered species of horse native to central Asia that was once fully extinct outside of captivity. The festival ushering in the Year of the Horse would draw attention to the zoo’s four specimens of Przewalski’s horse, named for a Russian geographer who first encountered them in the late 19th century across the steppes of western Mongolia. “Visitors will look at the horses and think that since this is the Year of the Horse: ‘I want to get to know horses,’” said zookeeper Chen Yun-chieh, who has beenBy Fabian Hamacher, Ann Wang and Yi-Chin Lee
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Civic group, parties slam opposition over budget
Civic group, parties slam opposition over budgetBy Chen Chih-cheng / Staff reporterA civic group and two political parties yesterday condemned lawmakers of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan Peple’s Party (TPP) for “disregarding the livelihoods of Taiwanese” by enjoying their year-end bonuses despite “failing to do their job” to review the government’s general budget. Representatives from civic groups including Citizen Congress Watch hold placards at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. “If a legislator’s performance is zero all year and they neglect even their basic duties, why should the public have to pay each of them a NT$300,000 year-end bonus?” he said. TSP secretary-general Ma Yin-hsian (馬依翔) criticized the KMT’s argument that they would only approve the committee review of the general budget and the special defense budget if the government promised additional pay raises for the military, and funding for police, firefighters and coast guard pensions. The civic group has a fundamental misunderstanding, failing to grasp that the essence of democracy is that power must be subject to continuous and public oversight, not blindly protected, the TPP said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 16:09 UTC
Investigation into 1980 Lin family murders continues
Investigation into 1980 Lin family murders continuesBy Lin Ching-chuan and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe High Prosecutors’ Office is continuing to investigate the infamous Lin (林) family murders from 1980 in the hopes that an unmatched fingerprint could bring a breakthrough in the cold case. The case of the Lin family murders is one of the highest-profile homicides in modern Taiwanese history. Democracy advocate Lin I-hsiung visits the graves of his mother and twin daughters in 2019. Photo: Taipei TimesOn Feb. 28, 1980, while democracy advocate Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) was jailed and awaiting trial on charges of rebellion for his participation in the Formosa Incident, an unknown person entered his house. In March 2007, the Criminal Investigation Bureau re-examined the physical evidence using the latest forensic technologies available at the time.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 08:54 UTC
Taiwan congratulates Thailand on lower house election
Taiwan congratulates Thailand on lower house electionStaff writer, with CNAThe government today congratulated Thailand on the smooth completion of its general election a day earlier, in which the country's ruling conservative party secured a solid victory. Yesterday's election was held to fill all 500 seats in the House of Representatives, including 400 constituency seats and 100 party-list seats. Then-Thai deputy prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Bhumjaithai Party lawmakers attend a news conference in Bangkok ahead of a parliamentary vote on a new prime minister on Aug. 15, 2024. Taiwan and Thailand have long maintained close and cordial ties in areas including trade, investment, tourism, culture and education, it ministry said. Building on this foundation, Taiwan looks forward to further deepening cooperation across various fields under Thailand's new government and parliament, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 06:45 UTC
Critically endangered wedgefish tracked off west coast
Critically endangered wedgefish tracked off west coastBy Yang Yuan-ting and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerResearchers used satellites to track five critically endangered Taiwanese wedgefish, identifying the waters off the west coast and Penghu County as key habitats essential to its survival, the Fisheries Research Institute said today. The wedgefish (Rhynchobatus immaculatus) is a shark-like ray that is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ Red List of Threatened Species. It was named an endemic species to Taiwan in 2013 and lives in shallow coastal and continental shelf waters off the west coast. A Taiwanese wedgefish is pictured in an undated photograph. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora included all species of wedgefish in its list of trade controls in 2019.
Source:Taipei Times
February 09, 2026 06:43 UTC