Taiwan has bipartisan support in US, senator saysBy Su Yong-yao / Staff reporterThe US Congress, across party lines, continues to support Taiwan’s sovereignty and independence, and opposes any form of public or covert coercion aimed at hindering other countries from engaging with Taiwan in a responsible manner, visiting US Senator Ruben Gallego said in Taipei yesterday. Speaking at a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office, Gallego said the US welcomes Taiwan’s presence in the international community, and that this is a bipartisan consensus in the US Senate. President William Lai, right, and US Senator Ruben Gallego, pose for a photograph at the Presidential Office i in Taipei yesterday. The senator from Arizona said that Taiwanese enterprises, particularly Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s investment in the state, have left a strong impression, and that the people of Arizona take great pride in the success of this partnership. Several businesses from Arizona have expanded their operations in Taiwan, notably in the drone sector, with the hope of further strengthening and expanding bilateral collaboration, he said.

Sixers down Rockets in overtimeAFP, LOS ANGELESThe Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Tyrese Maxey and a triple-double from Joel Embiid, on Thursday beat the Houston Rockets 128-122 in an NBA overtime thriller. Cameroonian big man Embiid scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists, posting the ninth triple-double of his career to help the Sixers end the Rockets’ three-game winning streak. Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Amen Thompson added 17, but Thompson was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers goes to the basket against the Houston Rockets in their NBA game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. Philadelphia opened the extra session with five straight points and held on for a win punctuated by a Maxey dunk.

The 73 South Korean suspects allegedly scammed fellow Koreans out of 48.6 billion won (US$33 million), South Korea said. Police escort repatriated South Koreans allegedly involved in scam operations in Cambodia, at Incheon International Airport yesterday. South Korea has made various efforts to bring them back home, including more than 10 rounds of video meetings with Cambodian officials, the South Korean Ministry of Justice said. South Korea hoped to continue close bilateral coordination until online scams targeting South Koreans are eradicated in Cambodia, Yoo added. Since October, about 130 South Korean scam suspects from Cambodia, as well as more than 20 such Korean suspects from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, have been sent back home.

Sri Lanka seal 19-run win over EnglandAFP, COLOMBOSri Lanka’s spinners on Thursday turned the screws to script a hard-fought 19-run victory over England in the opening one-day international at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. We knew it would start turning after the 30th over and batting would become a challenge,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said. Photo: APDuckett’s attempted reverse-sweep brought Sri Lanka back into the game as he was ruled out leg before wicket to Jeffrey Vandersay. Sri Lanka reviewed instantly, the on-field decision was overturned and the roar from the Premadasa stands said it all. “Sri Lanka outplayed us,” England captain Harry Brook said.

There have been many similar cases, but it is particularly troubling that some of the victims were excluded from the social welfare safety net because they did not meet eligibility criteria. When members of the middle class slip into the lower socioeconomic strata, they might be overlooked by social welfare agencies simply because they own a home or have children who are employed. By government standards, someone like her — who owns a home, has children and is still able to get around — would likely be excluded from long-term care services. It might be precisely this gap in the social welfare system that causes many people who are in need of timely assistance to fall through the cracks. Long-term care qualifications might differ, but suffering does not distinguish between rich and poor.

Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party reappoints chief To Lam as its headReutersVietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, reappointed yesterday as the country’s most powerful official, has earned a reputation as an ambitious reformer, promoting the strengthening of private conglomerates while boosting police powers. Less doctrinaire than his late predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, Lam has prioritized growth — which is crucial to legitimize the party’s authoritarian power — despite concerns over financial risks, controversial infrastructure and favoritism. Vietnamese Communist Party Secretary-General To Lam, second right, holds up a bouquet after being re-elected in Hanoi yesterday. Lam relinquished the presidency a few months after becoming party chief, but he continued acting as de facto head of state, representing the country abroad and meeting foreign leaders. As minister of public security, Lam oversaw approval of a large new opera house, Hanoi’s second, opened in 2023.

Industrial production expands 16.7%ROSY OUTLOOK: The manufacturing production index this year is expected to keep benefiting from demand for tech, including chip packaging, an official saidBy Meryl Kao / Staff reporterIndustrial production expanded 16.7 percent year-on-year last year, driven by growth in semiconductor, electronics and computers production, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. The manufacturing production index — which accounts for 94.63 percent of the overall industrial production index — rose 17.87 percent year-on-year to 113.12 last year, exceeding the ministry’s forecast of between 112.28 and 112.61 and marking a record high for full year, ministry data showed. That was supported by industrial production growth last month of 21.57 percent year-on-year, while manufacturing production increased for the 22nd consecutive month by 22.98 percent annually. People watch a wafer on screens at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Renovation Museum at the Hsinchu Science Park on July 5, 2023. Machinery equipment production rose 1.6 percent as demand for chipmaking equipment remained robust, she said.

Taipei MRT advises against use of all power banks after fire breaks outBy Gan Meng-lin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) yesterday issued an advisory urging passengers not to use power banks in the metro system, a week after a battery caught fire, causing a panic on the Blue Line. A mobile power bank rental station is pictured at an MRT station in Taipei yesterday. The TRTC will continue to make rental power banks available for passenger use, which can be activated in dedicated recharging zones, Lin said. Passengers are urged to only buy power banks with national safety standard certifications and refrain from using batteries with visible deformities or that generate excessive heat, they said. She added that mobile power bank rental stations are commonly seen at MRT stations, and it can be confusing when a rented power bank turns out to be unusable.

Pakistan’s ‘combat tested’ jets boost weapons salesCountries are interested in Pakistan as a source for defense sales after its JF-17 jets and other military equipment were tested in a conflict with India last yearBy Saad Sayeed / ReutersPakistan’s defense manufacturing industry is running red hot since its jets, drones and missiles earned the coveted “combat tested” tag in a conflict with India last year, attracting a slew of interested buyers. Pakistan’s military and defense ministry did not provide details on any deals but the country’s defense production minister confirmed that several countries were interested in jets and other military equipment. Pakistan’s weapons have become a viable alternative after they were tested in a massive air battle with India in May last year, in which Pakistan’s air force squadrons flew JF-17s alongside the advanced Chinese-made J-10s. Harraj also stressed the price difference between Pakistani jets and weapons and alternatives made in the US and Europe. Discussions on JF-17s and other weapons with Bangladesh and Iraq have been publicly acknowledged by Pakistan’s military, although more details have not been made public.

Opposition blocks special defense plan for 8th timeSTALEMATE: KMT and TPP lawmakers again demanded that the president appear before the legislature and answer inquiries, despite it being ruled unconstitutionalStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan yesterday blocked the review of a Cabinet-proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget. It marked the eighth time that the legislature voted down a motion to review the special budget since President William Lai (賴清德) unveiled it in November. Photo: CNAThe legislature also voted in favor of a motion “advising” Lai to appear before it to address the special defense budget and arms procurement packages, as well as respond to lawmakers’ inquiries. Opposition lawmakers have repeatedly said they would not vote to begin a review of the spending plans until Lai briefs the legislature and responds to inquiries. Asked about Greene’s comments, Lai yesterday said that faced with threats posed by China, support for Taiwan’s military is critical, and there is no better support than passing the special defense budget.

KMT, TPP block special defense budget for the eighth timeBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAOpposition parties today used their majority in the Legislative Yuan to block the Executive Yuan’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.55 billion) special defense budget for the eighth time. The KMT and TPP caucuses rejected the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s proposals and approved the TPP’s, again blocking the eight-year special defense budget. Supporting national defense and approving the special defense budget is the best way to back the military and safeguard the nation, Lai said, urging opposition parties to allow the budget to be reviewed and approved. The TPP caucus’s eight votes would back the Executive Yuan’s special defense budget if the majority found the president’s arguments sound, but Lai has not yet responded, he said. The KMT caucus hopes Lai will report to the Legislative Yuan, KMT caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.

PLA could ramp up aggression ahead of 2027: think tankBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerThis year could see the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) undertaking “more aggressive, ambitious operations around Taiwan,” in preparation for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) stated goal of the PLA having the capability to take Taiwan by next year, Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) director John Dotson said yesterday. It is thus the last year for the PRC to reach that capability, said Ann Kowalewski, a senior non-resident fellow at the Washington-based GTI. The institute yesterday held a panel discussion titled “Looking Ahead for Taiwan Policy in 2026.”Global Taiwan Institute director John Dotson speaks during a panel discussion in Washington yesterday. “What we might see is a massive ramp-up this year in PRC military capability,” she said. Kowalewski formerly led the Indo-Pacific portfolio as a senior professional staff member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

KMT calls for televised general budget debatesBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) proposal to hold three nationally televised debate sessions covering the central government’s general budget was sent to a second reading today. The move came after Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday called for a debate in the Legislative Yuan over this year’s general budget, which has not yet been passed. At today’s Legislative Yuan plenary session, the KMT proposed pitting the three KMT caucus leaders against the top three Executive Yuan officials in televised debates similar to those held during election campaigns. The legislative chamber at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. The Legislative Yuan has yet to send this year’s general budget to committee for review.

Taiwan offers talks with Ukraine to curb weapons sanctions evasionBy Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEIPresident William Lai (賴清德) today offered talks with Ukraine aimed at cracking down on sanctions-busting activities after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy name-checked Taiwan as a source of illicit missile components. President Willaim Lai speaks at an event in Taipei today. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesResponding on X in English, Lai said that Taiwan has long worked with global partners to "staunchly support Ukraine through humanitarian aid & coordinated sanctions." Lai today told reporters in Taipei that he welcomed Zelenskiy to pass on any information to Taiwan about sanctions-busting activities. Reuters could not reach the Office of the President of Ukraine for comment outside of office hours.

Sunny, warmer days forecast through MondayStaff writer, with CNASunny skies and warmer daytime temperatures are expected in Taiwan from tomorrow through Monday next week as a cold air mass gradually weakens, independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said today. While maximum temperatures across Taiwan are forecast to rise slightly today, overall conditions would remain cool, Wu said. Warmer daytime temperatures are expected from tomorrow through Monday. Stable and mostly clear skies are forecast for the west, while eastern Taiwan and eastern parts of Taipei and New Taipei City might experience occasional localized rain, he said. Another northeast monsoon system is forecast to arrive on Tuesday, bringing cooler temperatures, along with increased cloud cover and rain to northern and eastern Taiwan, he added.