Global internet freedom has declined for the 15th consecutive year, according to a newly released report, with Taiwan ranking best in Asia and seventh worldwide, while China and Myanmar remain the most restrictive. The “Freedom on the Net” survey, published by Washington-based non-profit Freedom House on Wednesday, found that Iceland continues to lead as the world’s freest nation online.  The report noted that both the U.S. and Germany recorded lower internet freedom scores for the past year, reflecting a worldwide trend in restrictions in democratic as well as authoritarian states. The U.S. dropped to an all-time low of 73 out of 100, partly due to moves by authorities to detain foreign nationals over online speech, while Germany’s score fell to 74 amid rising self-censorship and strict enforcement of laws against hate speech and defamation.  The report cited worsening online repression among authoritarian governments, which see internet control as key to maintaining powe...

A new update in the tariff negotiations, U.S. media reports that the United States is demanding investments between US$350 billion and US$500 billion from Taiwan. Responding to legislators' concerns that such investments may require the Central Bank’s foreign exchange reserves, Central Bank Deputy Governor Tzung-Ta Yen (嚴宗大) said the bank alone manages its reserves, and that market conditions will affect whether they are needed for such large remittances. Per Politico, which cites anonymous sources familiar with the Taiwan-U.S. tariff negotiations, the Trump administration is arranging for a clause in the tariff agreement that would require Taiwan to invest billions of dollars into the United States. The requirement would be similar to commitments made by South Korea and Japan earlier in 2025, likely with an amount somewhere between the two. This announcement caught the attention of legislators, who questioned Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) and Central Bank D...

Prime Minister Terrance Drew of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis arrived in Taiwan with his wife early on Thursday. He expressed hope for further strengthening the friendship between the two countries and deepening their cooperation. Drew stated that his government will continue to support Taiwan in gaining proper recognition in the international community for its contributions to global peace, development, and innovation. Drew and his delegation arrived at Taoyuan Airport in the early morning on an EVA Air flight, where Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) welcomed them at the VIP terminal. Upon arrival, Drew expressed his delight at visiting "the beautiful Republic of China, Taiwan," once again, noting that each visit feels both familiar and inspiring. He also commented on the steadfast friendship that has flourished between the two nations for 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Drew highlighted that Taiwan was the first country to support St...

The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers and the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in a joint statement issued after meeting in Canada. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed the message, expressing deep appreciation for the G7’s continued actions supporting regional peace and Taiwan’s international participation.  In the statement, issued Wednesday local time, the G7 reiterated its firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and denounced unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, particularly by force or coercion. The ministers encouraged peaceful cross-strait dialogue and meaningful participation for Taiwan in appropriate international organizations while voicing concern over China’s expanding military power and nuclear arsenal, urging Beijing to demonstrate its commitment to stability through greater transparency. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳...

In response to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s criticism of Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) recent trip to Europe to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), the Foreign Ministry reasserted Taiwan’s status as a sovereign and independent nation and emphasized that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to one another. In an interview with a YahooTV program this Wednesday, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said the vice president was invited to Europe to speak at the IPAC annual summit in Brussels. He said that this demonstrates Europe’s growing support for and recognition of Taiwan, stressing that China has no right to interfere.  Lin noted that while Hsiao’s visit might subject European countries to Chinese pressure, the event reflected a “shared responsibility” among partners. Because IPAC is based in the United Kingdom and the meeting was held at the European Parliament, EU and Belgian approval was needed for Hsiao’s parti...

Changhua native Sylvia Chao(趙韻嵐) has won first prize at the Sherbeth International Festival of Artisan Ice Cream in Palermo, Sicily, for her Luce d'Oolong flavored ice cream. That’s according to Italy’s la Repubblica’s reporting from this past Tuesday. Chao runs an ice cream parlor called Mountain in Blue in her hometown of Lukang, where she uses local ingredients to create unique flavors. Previously, her ice cream was specially chosen to serve to international guests at the National Day reception in Taipei in 2023. According to La Repubblica, Chao’s oolong tea ice cream, with its blend of floral notes and other flavors, won unanimous praise from the public and professionals alike. This marks the first time a Taiwanese ice cream artisan has won the award. Palermo, the birthplace of ice cream, has been hosting this festival since 2008. This year saw 50 contestants participate. Chao’s achievement follows a team of Taiwanese pastry chefs winning the 2025 Panettone World...

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong reached southern Taiwan Wednesday morning, with maximum sustained winds of only 20 meters per second and a storm radius that has shrunk to 150 kilometers. Given the storm has become significantly weaker and smaller, only Nantou, areas south of Chiayi, and eight counties throughout Hualien and Taitung are still under a land warning. Fung-wong’s path has shifted southward, and it is expected to make landfall at the southernmost tip of the Hengchun Peninsula sometime Wednesday night. However, a maritime warning is still in effect in the waters surrounding Taiwan.  Although the storm’s intensity will continue to weaken, the Central Weather Administration reminds the public to remain on high alert for heavy rain. Per their statistics, cumulative rainfall since this Monday has exceeded 1,000 millimeters at Yilan’s Dong'ao Ridge; in parts of Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung, 400-750 mm of rain has been recorded.  The Agriculture Ministry’s Agency of Rura...

To ensure its smooth operation, the MRT hides many "mysterious mechanisms," including a facility that resembles a vault door.  Video script:  Curious commuters recently noticed a massive, vault-like door near exit 5 of Taipei Metro’s Nanjing Fuxing Station, sparking online speculation about its purpose. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) clarified that the heavy, sealed structure is a flood barrier system, a vital defense mechanism designed after the devastating floods caused by Typhoon Nari in 2001. During that storm, floodwaters inundated the blue Bannan Line and even swamped Taipei Main Station, reaching depths of up to 2.3 meters. The disaster led TRTC to design and install multiple waterproof systems across the network. “If flooding threatens, this watertight door, 30 centimeters thick, can be closed to prevent water from entering the platform level,” said CTS reporter Chang Hsiao-yuan (張小媛) while demonstrating the mechanism on-site. According to Huang Yi-...