Brentford’s Igor Thiago eyes FIFA World Cup berth
Brentford’s Igor Thiago eyes FIFA World Cup berthAFP, LONDONBrentford striker Igor Thiago has already made English Premier League history: Now the Brazilian hopes to take his unlikely success story to the FIFA World Cup. Brentford’s Igor Thiago reacts during their English Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Jan. 1. Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Philippe Coutinho, Juninho and Robinho are among the other Brazil forwards to have played in the Premier League. Thanks to Thiago’s scoring spree, Brentford have climbed to fifth place in the Premier League, sparking unexpected dreams of UEFA Champions League qualification. Already linked with a move to Premier League leaders Arsenal, he has been catapulted into contention for a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:13 UTC
Chloe Kim ‘good to go’ for Winter Olympics
Chloe Kim ‘good to go’ for Winter OlympicsAFP, LOS ANGELESUS snowboard star Chloe Kim on Tuesday said she would be fit to compete at next month’s Winter Olympics in Italy despite sustaining a shoulder injury last week. Kim revealed she had suffered a torn labrum in a training fall in Switzerland, and while she would not be able to train before the Olympics, she would be fit to compete. Gold medalist Chloe Kim of the US celebrates on the podium during the women’s halfpipe medal ceremony at the FIS Freestyle World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, on March 29 last year. Photo: ReutersThe snowboard star said her labrum injury was at the less serious end of the spectrum, allowing her to take part in the Olympics. The Milan-Cortina Olympics are to take place from Feb. 6 to 22.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:13 UTC
Under the spotlight
Gilgeous-Alexander rescues ThunderMOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:13 UTC
Taiwanese golf contest included on JLPGA tour
Taiwanese golf contest included on JLPGA tourStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (TLPGA) and the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (JLPGA) yesterday announced that this year’s Taiwan Foxconn Ladies Golf Tournament would be officially included as part of the JLPGA tour. It is the first time in 46 years the JLPGA has included an overseas event and would make Taiwan the only overseas stop on the tour this year. Japan-based Taiwanese golfer Wu Chia-yen, left, and Japanese golfer Yui Kawamoto pose for a photograph at a news conference yesterday. Photo: CNAJapanese golfer Yui Kawamoto and Japan-based Taiwanese golfer Wu Chia-yen attended a news conference announcing the development. The Taiwan Foxconn Ladies Golf Tournament is to be held from March 12 to 15 at the Orient Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan’s Gueishan District (龜山).
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:13 UTC
Tropical storm forming, cold air mass expected
Tropical storm forming, cold air mass expectedBACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central TaiwanBy Lin Chih-yi / Staff reporterA tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan, Cheng said. On Tuesday, a strong continental cold air mass would move south, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan and Yilan County, while southern Taiwan would experience cool mornings and evenings. From Wednesday onward, mornings and evenings would be chilly nationwide, with northern Taiwan and Yilan County being cold throughout the day, Cheng said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:12 UTC
Women’s group argues against surrogacy legalization
Women’s group argues against surrogacy legalizationBy William Hetherington / Staff writer, with CNAThe Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation on Monday argued against the legalization of surrogacy, saying that the procedure “treats women’s wombs as tools.”The foundation on social media said that “wombs should not be treated as tools or commodities for producing children for others,” and that it was necessary to “safeguard women’s reproductive autonomy and bodily autonomy.”Surrogacy would introduce risks of physical and psychological harm, it said. The Executive Yuan last month proposed amendments to the act, which includes granting married female couples and single women access to legal assisted reproductive services. However, the Taiwan People’s Party also proposed an amendment that would legalize surrogacy in addition to assisted reproductive treatment for married female couples and single women. The foundation said assisted reproductive technologies are different from surrogacy, which could lead to the exploitation of women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The most common assisted reproductive techniques used in surrogacy are artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 17:11 UTC
Nanmen deals
Interview: Trumpf expanding its Taiwan facilitiesSEMICONDUCTORS: The German laser and plasma generator company will expand its local services as its specialized offerings support Taiwan’s semiconductor industries Trumpf SE + Co KG, a global leader in supplying laser technology and plasma generators used in chip production, is expanding its investments in Taiwan in an effort to deeply integrate into the global semiconductor supply chain in the pursuit of growth. The company, headquartered in Ditzingen, Germany, has invested significantly in a newly inaugurated regional technical center for plasma generators in Taoyuan, its latest expansion in Taiwan after being engaged in various industries for more than 25 years. The center, the first of its kind Trumpf built outside Germany, aims to serve customers from Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia and South Korea,By Lisa Wang
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 16:42 UTC
China’s trade surplus surges 20 percent to a record US$1.2 trillion
China’s trade surplus surges 20 percent to a record US$1.2 trillionAP, HONG KONGChina’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost US$1.2 trillion last year, the government said yesterday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the US under US President Donald Trump’s onslaught of higher tariffs. The results came as China’s exports last month climbed 6.6 percent from the year before in US dollar terms, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9 percent year-on-year increase. For the whole of last year, China’s exports to the US fell 20 percent. “We expect domestic demand growth to stay tepid,” Rong said. With slow import growth, he expects China’s trade surplus to remain above US$1 trillion this year.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 16:42 UTC
Indonesia needs to break the habit of living dangerously
Indonesia needs to break the habit of living dangerouslyBy Karishma Vaswani / Bloomberg OpinionIndonesia’s first president, Sukarno, famously titled his 1964 independence day address Tahun vivere pericoloso — the year of living dangerously. The top-down governing style of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto — a military man who was once Suharto’s son-in-law — risks compounding this uncertainty and deterring overseas investment. They also claim the process involved undisclosed conflicts of interest and improper gains of about 809 billion rupiah for Makarim. He denies all charges and has entered what is known in the Indonesian legal system as an objection plea, challenging the validity of the case. Previously, she was the BBC’s lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 16:32 UTC
Why this time is different for Iran
Why was the reaction to political dissent so different this time? Illustration: Mountain PeopleAdding insult to injury, Iran is no longer able to prevent foreign actors from boosting popular discontent at home. Notably, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is filled with veterans of the Syria conflict. Could the US pursue a similar strategy against the Islamic republic? A total collapse of the Islamic republic is not necessarily imminent, but Iran’s revolution is now nearing its end.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 16:32 UTC
Diplomacy potential of overseas groups
Diplomacy potential of overseas groupsBy Wang Wen-sheng 王文勝Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) recently said that NT$41.5 billion (US$1.31 billion) in diplomatic funding has been stalled, affecting many of Taiwan’s diplomatic initiatives. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has deliberately attempted to sabotage those efforts to prevent Taiwan’s diplomatic expansion, he said. Although Taiwan’s international status is relatively low, the Republic of China’s (ROC) visibility would be higher in the eyes of overseas communities. Pro-Beijing overseas groups and hometown associations are eager to gain access to the Republican Party. Amid the US’ broader shift to the right, pro-Beijing overseas communities are themselves eager to engage in “united front” work targeting the Republican Party.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 16:32 UTC
MOFA welcomes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to Taiwan
MOFA welcomes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to TaiwanBy Huang Ching-hsuan and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerPhoenix Mayor Kate Gallego yesterday said her city would continue deepening high-tech cooperation with Taiwan, as she arrived in Taiwan for a visit. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) welcomed Gallego and her delegation to Taiwan with a banquet. Phoenix would continue to work closely with Taiwan and deepen cooperation in high-tech industries to ensure supply chain resilience, particularly following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) announcement of a US$165 billion US investment plan, Gallego said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, center right, poses with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, center left, and her delegation at a banquet in Taipei last night. This week marks the third time that Gallego has led a delegation to Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 09:42 UTC
Death sentence upheld for man convicted of killing neighbors
Death sentence upheld for man convicted of killing neighborsStaff writer, with CNAThe High Court's Kaohsiung branch today upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of fatally stabbing his upstairs neighbors for allegedly making excessive noise. The man, surnamed Wu (吳), was found guilty of two counts of murder and sentenced to death on each count, along with lifelong deprivation of civil rights. Kaohsiung police escort a man surnamed Wu to the Lingya Precinct in 2023 following his arrest. In its decision, the court said Wu acted with direct intent to kill, meeting the Constitutional Court's requirement that the death penalty be reserved for "the most serious crimes." The court also issued supplementary remarks on the controversy surrounding capital punishment, saying that the Constitutional Court has not ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, but has urged judges to exercise caution when imposing it.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 09:24 UTC
Taipei MRT installs memorial plaque for attack victim
Taipei MRT installs memorial plaque for attack victimStaff writer, with CNATaipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) yesterday said it has installed a permanent memorial plaque to honor a man who was killed while trying to stop an attacker at Taipei Main Station last month. The plaque honoring Yu Chia-chang (余家昶) has been installed on a wall along the underground passage leading to Exit M8 at Taipei Main Station, the company said in a news release. A memorial plaque for stabbing attack victim Yu Chia-chang is pictured at MRT Taipei Main Station yesterday. Yu, who lived in Taoyuan, was seriously wounded and later died after trying to stop 27-year-old Chang Wen (張文), who threw smoke grenades inside MRT Taipei Main Station and stabbed bystanders near MRT Zhongshan Station on Dec. 19 last year. The company also reminded the public that the memorial plaque is located along a main passageway, and urged people not to place flowers or other items at the site to keep the area clear and safe.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 07:48 UTC
Presidential impeachment hearings begin at legislature
Presidential impeachment hearings begin at legislatureBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan is holding public hearings today and tomorrow regarding an impeachment motion raised by opposition parties against President William Lai (賴清德). This morning’s session marked the first impeachment public hearing in constitutional history, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said. Reporters attend an impeachment motion hearing at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei today. The impeachment motion is not about partisan conflict, but about ensuring that constitutional accountability is recorded in history, she said. Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) yesterday said that the Presidential Office respects the opposition’s constitutional right to launch an impeachment motion.
Source:Taipei Times
January 14, 2026 07:00 UTC