Taipei Times
Latest crypto news and market updates from Taipei Times.
China’s Xi Jinping wraps up visit to the USUS President Donald Trump yesterday took Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to visit the National Archives, showing off the texts of US democracy to the leader of the world’s most powerful communist country to cap off a three-day state visit criticized for being heavy on pomp and light on substance.Taipei Times
Ex-US admiral calls for arms sales actionThe US should move ahead with arms sales notifications for Taiwan following the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Thursday, a retired senior US Navy officer said yesterday.Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral, told reporters in Taipei thatTaipei Times
Netanyahu defiant at UN as he seeks re-election at homeIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the year declaring that he stood “shoulder to shoulder” with US President Donald Trump as the two countries launched a war against Iran, but this week, as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, there were no plans for the two mTaipei Times
Google plans test of space chips in Project SuncatcherAlphabet Inc’s Google said on Thursday it would launch a prototype satellite next week in its first in-orbit test of Project Suncatcher, a research effort to explore whether space could potentially host large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure.Companies including Space ExploTaipei Times
Keep pressure on Russia: ZelenskiyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday told world leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the only obstacle to ending “the ridiculous and never-ending war,” as he urged nations to pressure Putin for peace by choking the country’s revenues and impeding its war efforts.“Our targTaipei Times
Pentagon probes how China got parts for F-35sThe Pentagon is investigating how parts of the US’ most advanced fighter jet ended up in Hong Kong, with a news outlet on Wednesday reporting that China has obtained the F-35 equipment.The F-35 Joint Program Office said in a statement that it and the US Department of Defense are aware of “a shipmentTaipei Times
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North Korean weightlifter sets three world recordsNorth Korean weightlifter Ri Song-gum yesterday gave her country their first gold of the Asian Games in style, setting three world records in the women’s 49kg class in Nagoya, Japan, and shedding tears of joy. The pocket powerhouse, who stands a mere 140cm tall, joined an elite club of just four weiTaipei Times
MOEA increases forecast for UAV businessThe Ministry of Economic Affairs has increased its forecast of Taiwan’s drone industry output to about NT$50 billion (US$1.57 billion) by 2030 from an earlier estimate of NT$40 billion, thanks to rapidly growing demand.Drones are emerging as important tools of modern combat and reshaping traditionalTaipei Times
The world that the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks did not makeToday marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 (9/11), terrorist attacks on the US. For many Americans, 9/11 is a distant memory, or not a memory at all — approximately 40 percent of the US population was either born after the attacks or is too young to remember them.On that day, 19 terrorisTaipei Times
Trump makes dubious US$5,000 election pledgeUS President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged to send every US adult US$5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House of Representatives and Senate in the midterm elections, an extraordinary gambit to reverse his party’s sagging fortunes in November.With approximately 270 million US adults, tTaipei Times
12 countries including France, UK say will sanction trade with IsraeliTwelve countries including Britain, Canada and France announced Tuesday they would sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after increasing attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied territory.Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and SwTaipei Times
Taiwan students score among world’s best in 2025 PISA assessmentTaiwan’s 15-year-old students ranked fourth in the world in science and mathematics and achieved a record-high third place in reading literacy in last year\Taipei Times
Saxony-Anhalt election delivers a blow to MerzThe far-right Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) triumph in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt marks a defeat for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and sends a warning to other European leaders battling the same mixture of slow growth and disillusion with mainstream politics.AfD, just short of an absoluTaipei Times
Saudi Arabia vows response as Houthis hit oil sitesSaudi Arabia yesterday threatened to hit back after a wave of missiles from Yemen’s Houthis set oil facilities ablaze and wounded dozens, the Iran-backed rebels’ heaviest attack in years.The overnight attacks caused “temporary” shutdowns at oil sites and left 73 injured, Saudi authorities said, a reTaipei Times
Australia proposes ‘opt out’ legislationAustralia has proposed legislation that would allow social media users to opt out of platforms’ algorithms, a potentially far-reaching step that deepens regulatory efforts worldwide to rein in Big Tech and limit online harm.Under the Labor government’s draft Digital Duty of Care bill released yesterTaipei Times
Driver thanks ‘superhero’ rival as race safety failsA British racing driver thanked a “superhero” rival for pulling him from the flaming wreckage of his car after a horror crash in Shanghai, saying the quick response saved his life. Loek Hartog on Saturday stopped and leapt out of his own car to rush to the aid of Ollie Millroy during the China GT ChTaipei Times
RobotaxiA Tesla Inc Cybercab driverless car is displayed during a preview at the company’s delivery center in Hong Kong yesterday. Photo: BloombergTaipei Times
FAA investigating cause of fatal crash in MiamiUS Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators yesterday were detailing their plans for determining what caused an Amazon.com Inc cargo jet to barrel off a runway at Miami International Airport, killing at least five people and injuring five others as it struck vehicles and was engulfed in fTaipei Times
EU chief due in Greenland to boost tiesEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen headed to Greenland yesterday for a two-day visit aimed at reaffirming the bloc’s support for the Danish autonomous territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.Today, she is due to sign a joint declaration between the EU and Greenland.“GreenlandTaipei Times
US envoys hold talks with Zelenskiy on first Kyiv visitUS envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held talks yesterday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on ending the war with Russia, making their first visit to Kyiv a day after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.Zelenskiy published a video of meeting the two in central Kyiv, sayingTaipei Times
UN endorses using ‘Equal Earth’ map over MercatorThe UN General Assembly on Friday endorsed a new world map that represents Africa’s larger size more accurately, a culmination of a campaign led by African countries and advocacy groups.The resolution, which was sponsored by Togo and backed by members of the African Union, was passed with 164 memberTaipei Times
Zverev survives Halys scare at US OpenAlexander Zverev survived another almighty scare at the US Open as the top seed overcame Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3 on Thursday to secure a place in the third round of the Grand Slam.The French Open champion was taken the distance by Lorenzo Sonego in his opening contest aTaipei Times
‘I wouldn’t call it a war’: Vance on IranUS Vice President J.D. Vance on Thursday rejected the use of the word “war” to describe the US fighting with Iran, as he steered clear of predicting that the six-month-old conflict would be over by November’s midterm elections, in which Republicans are trying to hang on to their narrow majorities inTaipei Times
Foreigners fueling Sudan war: UNForeign weapons, military technology, fighters and logistical networks are helping sustain Sudan’s conflict and expanding the warring parties’ ability to strike deep into civilian areas, a UN fact-finding mission said in a report published yesterday, warning that some attacks might amount to war criTaipei Times
Data center spending to reach US$31.6tn by 2050Global data center spending is set to reach US$31.6 trillion through 2050 to meet the world’s growing appetite for artificial intelligence (AI), an investment boom with no precedent in history, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) said in a report released on Wednesday.Dwarfing projects such as the railTaipei Times
Chinese artists withdraw from biennaleChinese artists withdrew from a major South Korean art show after organizers allowed “Taiwan” to be used in the name of the exhibition, officials said yesterday, as China issued a rebuke.The Gwangju Biennale, one of Asia’s largest contemporary art events, is to open tomorrow, with its Pavilion ProjeTaipei Times
NBA fines Clippers US$30m after probeThe NBA on Wednesday came down hard on the Los Angeles Clippers, stripping the team of five first-round draft picks, imposing a US$30 million fine and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a year over salary cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard.After a year-long probe, the NBA said in a statement thTaipei Times
IAEA report outlines Syrian nuclear activitySyria was constructing a nuclear reactor in Deir el-Zour under the leadership of ousted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, a UN report said on Tuesday.Inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month visited several sites in Syria and carried out verification work thatTaipei Times
Iran hits targets in Gulf after strike by US hits weddingIran yesterday launched a wave of attacks on US sites across the Middle East as violence surged after an extensive US bombardment and the deaths of four people at an Iranian wedding party.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced attacks on US bases in Jordan, the United Arab EmirateTaipei Times
Everything you need to know about the 2026 Venice Film FestivalSome of Hollywood’s biggest stars are heading to Venice, Italy, for the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday.Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the festival, the Oscar buzz and who’s going.STAR POWERIt’s one of the most prestigious film festivals inTaipei Times
Hit by deadly floods, Nepal renews push for Chinese data and early warningsThree months before a wall of water, mud and rock killed hundreds when it hurtled down a Himalayan valley bordering Nepal and China, experts and officials from both countries met in Kathmandu to discuss the risk of such disasters. At the May 27 meeting in Nepal’s capital, 10 officials from Nepal andTaipei Times
US-Taiwan Palau projects announcedThe US Department of State has announced partnerships with Taiwan on two Palau projects after Washington pledged more than US$150 million for Pacific island nations.Following the opening of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Palau on Sunday, the department on Tuesday issued a stTaipei Times
Utah judge sends Charlie Kirk murder case to trialThe murder case against the Utah man accused of killing Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk last year is headed for trial and the defendant could face the death penalty if he is convicted.Utah District Judge Tony Graf on Tuesday sided with prosecutors who said they had “a mountain of evidence” thTaipei Times
Thai city beckons US Navy sailorsThere is no getting around the fact that Thailand’s seaside resort of Pattaya has a lingering reputation for sex tourism, even though that is only part of the story for the city that is an expected shore leave destination of crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.Pattaya, about 100km southeastTaipei Times
Fans bring Filipino flags, pride to US OpenThe Alex Eala fans came bearing Philippine flags, and wearing hats telling her to fight on (“Laban Alex”). They cheered her sizzling groundstrokes, documented her volleys and serves in photos and video, and in some cases FaceTimed with friends or family — and this was only at the practice courts.ItTaipei Times
SPORTS BRIEFSCRICKETPakistan replace coachPakistan have replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul, and sent seven players home, in a dramatic response to successive Test thrashings by England. The tourists suffered an innings and 103-run loss in the series opener at Headingley before goiTaipei Times
Lai touts industrial connections at SemiconPresident William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has created new industrial connections around the world, reinforcing international ties and creating a more diversified and resilient supply chain.Speaking at this year’s Semicon Network Summit in Taipei, Lai said Taiwan hasTaipei Times
China’s silence after Tibet floodingThe devastation in Tibet from flooding caused by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas was immediate and profound. Entire communities were left in shock, families were torn apart and countless lives were disrupted. That was followed by deafening silence from the Chinese authorities. No official tallyTaipei Times
It ‘hurts,’ Messi says, as he ends international careerLionel Messi on Monday said he was retiring from international soccer after leading Argentina to a second successive FIFA World Cup final in July.The 39-year-old forward who won the World Cup in 2022 and dragged his nation to the final in the US only to lose to Spain, said the decision had been painTaipei Times