ICRT

Posted on 2026-02-18 17:51:13

TPP founding chairman Ko Wen-zhe visited several temples in Miaoli County
today, offering prayers and handing out red envelopes and holiday gift bags
to the public.

During the visit, Ko said he believes TPP Policy Committee Director Lai
Xiang-ling—who is set to become Miaoli County’s deputy magistrate—“will
do a very goo job."

He also thanked Miaoli Magistrate Zhong Dong-jin for the nomination, saying
Lai has extensive experience at both the central and local government levels.

Zhong, a KMT member, announced in December last year that he would nominate
Lai as the county’s second deputy magistrate.

The move is seen as another example of cooperation between the KMT and the
TPP.

Posted on 2026-02-18 17:51:14

In world news...

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte says she will seek the presidency in
the 2028 elections.

Her bid would have to withstand new impeachment attempts and criminal
complaints that could ban her from public office if convicted.

She made the announcement today in a televised speech where she renewed
allegations of corruption and misrule against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

They have had a bitter falling out since their 2022 election victory.

She and her family have blamed Marcos for the detention of her father, former
President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces a potential trial for crimes against
humanity at the International Criminal Court.

Marcos is limited to a single, six-year term.

Posted on 2026-02-18 17:51:14

Artificial intelligence is spreading fast across India, and people already
use it to work quicker and cheaper.

Farmers use an iPad-guided tractor that plants, sprays and harvests with
precision.

Educators use AI to scan and grade handwritten exam papers and build study
plans.

Global firms are also scaling up in India, including big investments from
Microsoft and Google.

On Monday, New Delhi started hosting a five-day AI summit as the government
pushes research and training.

But India still lacks its own top AI models and chips.

Some workers have also lost jobs as companies have begun moving toward more
AI-driven automation.

Posted on 2026-02-18 17:06:14

The Centers for Disease Control says nearly 90 percent of recent diarrhea
cluster outbreaks during the Lunar New Year holiday have been caused by
norovirus.

The CDC adds that norovirus spreads easily through contact with vomit or
fecal matter.

Health officials said clinic visits for diarrhea rose about 15 percent on
the first day of the holiday compared with Lunar New Year’s Eve, although
the total number remained lower than in previous years.

The CDC noted that infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune
systems are more likely to develop severe symptoms, and advised anyone with
vomiting or diarrhea to remain at home until at least 48 hours after symptoms
subside.

Health officials are urging the public to practice good hygiene, including
frequent handwashing with soap before food preparation and meals, thoroughly
cooking food, and disinfecting contaminated clothing or bedding.

Wearing masks in public places can also help reduce transmission.

Posted on 2026-02-18 17:06:14

In world news...

Ukraine and Russia were due to begin a second day of talks in Geneva, as
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the United States was putting
undue pressure on him to bring an end to the four-year-old war.

The U.S.-mediated peace talks in Switzerland have been taking place as U.S.
President Donald Trump has twice in recent days suggested it was up to
Ukraine and Zelenskiy to take steps to ensure the talks were successful.

In an interview on Tuesday, Zelenskiy said it was "not fair" that Trump kept
publicly calling on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions in negotiating
terms for a peace plan.

Zelenskiy also said any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory that
Russia had not captured in the eastern Donbas region would be rejected by
Ukrainians if put to a referendum.

Ukraine's lead negotiator said that Tuesday's talks had focused on "practical
issues and the mechanics of possible decisions," without providing details.

Russian officials made no comments on the talks.

Posted on 2026-02-18 16:07:13

The White House has reiterated that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed.

The comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had
been discussing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and
would make a decision "soon."

Trump said so when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday about
Beijing's warnings during a recent phone call with Xi over potential
additional U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Trump also said he has a good relationship with Xi and reiterated that he
expects to visit China in April.

The comments drew attention in Washington.

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has spoken with Xi
multiple times. According to publicly available information, their most
recent call took place on Feb. 4.

Following that call, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 7 that Washington
was preparing an arms package for Taiwan that could be worth about $20
billion U.S. dollars.

Beijing has privately warned that such a move could jeopardize Trump's
planned state visit to China in April, the report said.

Posted on 2026-02-18 16:07:15

In world news...

Japanese Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi has been reappointed by Parliament
after last week's landslide election win that gave her a strong public
mandate.

She will form her second Cabinet, with all previous ministers expected to be
retained.

Taka-ichi is now gearing up to work on policies she says are needed to make
Japan stronger and more prosperous, using her governing Liberal Democratic
Party’s two-thirds supermajority in the lower house.

She hopes to bolster Japan’s military power, government spending, U.S.
alliance and social conservatism.

Her first urgent task is to address rising prices and sluggish wages and pass
a budget bill to fund those measures, delayed by the election.

Takaichi proposes a two-year sales tax cut on food products to ease household
living costs.

On China, experts say the new PM, emboldened by the big election win, could
take a more hawkish stance with the neighboring country.

Posted on 2026-02-18 15:06:13

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qi-mai said today that Penghu County Magistrate Chen
Guang-fu has completed intra-cranial decompression surgery following a head
injury that caused internal bleeding..

He added that the coming week will be a critical period for recovery.

Chen Qi-mai said he had contacted the magistrate’s family and called on the
public to offer their support and well wishes for the magistrate’s recovery.

Hospital officials say the next few days will be an important observation
period as doctors continue treatment.

Chen Guang-fu was seriously injured yesterday when he accidentally fell down
a staircase while handing out red envelopes in Penghu.

The fall caused severe head trauma, leaving him unconscious and briefly
without a heartbeat or breathing.

He was first rushed to the Penghu branch of Tri-Service General Hospital for
emergency treatment and was later transferred to Kaohsiung Veterans General
Hospital for further care.

Posted on 2026-02-18 15:06:13

E-mobility companies in Africa are beginning local assembly of electric vans
and taxis using Chinese-made kits and innovative financing to spread use of
electric public transport across the continent.

Kenya and Nigeria, two of Africa’s largest economies, are leading the push
for local EV assembly as countries seek to cut fuel costs, reduce emissions
and build domestic manufacturing capacity.

Pay-as-you-drive and lease-to-own business models are helping to overcome
high upfront costs, making EVs more affordable.

Ethiopia also is entering the market as local assembly and innovative
financing help to expand sustainable transport.

Still, there are only about 30,000 EVs in Africa, compared with millions of
gas and diesel-fueled vehicles.

Posted on 2026-02-18 14:07:14

State-owned banks in Taiwan are expanding childbirth and parenting benefits
as the island faces a rapidly declining birthrate and a growing elderly
population.

Government statistics show Taiwan’s population continued to shrink in
2025, while people aged 65 and over now account for more than 20 percent of
the population, officially placing Taiwan in the category of a “super-aged
society.”

The number of newborns fell to about 108,000 last year, marking a tenth
consecutive annual decline and a record low.

To encourage employees to have children, several state-owned banks are
offering larger childbirth subsidies, education grants for employees’
children, and expanded family-friendly leave policies.

Some banks now provide up to NT$250,000 for third or additional children,
while others also offer childcare subsidies, flexible working hours,
parenting seminars, and mental-health counseling services.

Bank officials say the measures are aimed at helping employees balance work
and family life, while supporting the government’s broader efforts to
address Taiwan’s falling birthrate.

Statistics show that return-to-work rates after parental leave at public
banks like Mega Bank, First Bank and Taiwan Business Bank, remain high,
ranging from roughly 80 percent to 100 percent.

Posted on 2026-02-18 14:07:17

The popular Taiwan weather app "Raining Bell" has been upgraded to include an
AI-powered voice assistant that allows users to ask about the weather using
spoken Mandarin or Taiwanese Hokkien.

The app, a collaboration between the National Center for High-performance
Computing and the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster
Reduction, has already been downloaded more than 370,000 times.

The latest version introduces "Firefly," an AI question-and-answer function
that enables hands-free, voice-based questions about the weather, upgrading
from the text-only input system.

Users will receive spoken responses as well.

The new feature is designed to make weather information more accessible,
particularly for seniors who may be unfamiliar with keyboards and
touchscreens.

Experts said weather services are closely tied to daily life, making them an
ideal entry point for generative AI applications.

In addition to the new voice feature, the forecast range of the app has been
extended to provide information of rainfall for three days in cooperation
with the Central Weather Administration.

Posted on 2026-02-18 14:07:17

In world news...

Japan has reported its exports surged nearly 17% in January from a year
earlier, on strong shipments to China and other Asian markets.

However, exports to the United States fell 5%.

The Finance Ministry reported today that imports slipped 2.5% from a year
earlier to $67 billion US dollar, outpacing exports of nearly $60 billion.

Japan's exports of electrical machinery, vehicles and food rose sharply.

Imports of semiconductors and other computer components showed the fastest
growth.

Japan’s economy depends heavily on exports and dramatic increases in tariffs
by U.S. President Donald Trump have taken a toll.

The economy expanded at an anemic 0.2% annual pace in the last quarter, with
growth for 2025 at just 1.1%.

Posted on 2026-02-18 14:07:17

A marine researcher says he has video evidence of the first recorded shark in
the Antarctic Ocean.

The shark, filmed in January 2025, was a substantial specimen with an
estimated length of between 3 and 4 meters

Alan Jamieson says many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the
frigid waters of Antarctica before a sleeper shark was recorded last year.

The camera operated by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre was
positioned off the South Shetland Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Conservation biologist Peter Kyne agrees that a shark has never before been
recorded so far south.

The shark was at 490 meters deep where the water temperature was a
near-freezing 1.3 degrees Celsius.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:10:13

We are seeing some heavy traffic on the freeways as today marks the second
day of the Lunar New Year, traditionally the day for married daughters to go
back home to see their parents.

On freeway number one, vehicles are moving slowly at an average speed of 25
kilometers an hour on the northbound lanes from New Taipei's Xinzhuang to
Xi-zhi,

and it's also crowded on the southbound lanes from Tu-cheng to Guan-xi on
Freeway number three.

Also on freeway number 3 in central Taiwan, there's a lot of traffic on the
southbound lanes from Cao-tun to Ming-jian as well, while in the south,
there's congestion from Tai-nan Xin-hua to Kaohsiung Yan-chao.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:10:13

The Ministry of Environment has touted its achievement in treating previously
polluted water areas, saying that some of them have been transformed into
accessible waterfront attractions for the public.

It says Locations such as Tainan’s Yue-jin Harbor and Taoyuan’s Rui-xing
Wetland have become popular leisure destinations.

According to the ministry’s long-term monitoring data, the number of river
monitoring stations classified as severely polluted nationwide has dropped
sharply from 66 stations in 2002 to just two in 2025.

Officials said this demonstrates the success of river restoration efforts and
has made waterfront recreation an increasingly popular weekend activity.

The ministry has also partnered with local governments to promote 92
“on-site water-quality purification facilities.”

These sites not only restore the vitality of waterfront ecosystems but also
convert pollution loads into clear water sources, creating diverse
recreational spaces.

At the Ruixing Wetland in Taoyuan, seven ecological ponds have been built in
the upper reaches of the Da-han River, preserving rare native Taiwanese
soybean species and making the area a popular location for birdwatching and
cycling.

After restoration, Tainan's Yue-jin Harbor now features green space, bike
lanes and walkways, and hosts the annual Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival
during the Lunar New Year period.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:10:13

Japanese Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi is gearing up to work on policies
she says are needed to make Japan stronger and more prosperous, using her
governing Liberal Democratic Party’s two-thirds supermajority in the lower
house.

She hopes she now has the political power to bolster Japan’s military power,
government spending, U.S. alliance and social conservativism.

First, Taka-ichi will be re-appointed as prime minister in parliamentary
votes and form her second Cabinet on Wednesday.

Experts also say that the new PM could take a more hawkish stance with China.

Soon after the election, Taka-ichi said she is working to gain support for a
visit to Tokyo’s controversial Yasu-kuni Shrine.

Visits to the shrine are seen by Japan’s neighbors as evidence of a lack of
remorse for Japan’s wartime past.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:10:13

A continental cold air mass is affecting Taiwan today, bringing colder
weather to northern and northeastern areas, while other regions will also
feel cool conditions in the morning and evening.

Central and southern Taiwan will see large day–night temperature
differences.

Brief scattered showers are expected along the Keelung north coast, eastern
Taiwan, and the Hengchun Peninsula, while other areas, as well as Penghu,
Kinmen, and Matsu, will experience partly cloudy to sunny skies.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:09:13

The United States and the Philippines have reaffirmed the importance of
regional security in the Taiwan Strait following the 12th Philippines-United
States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila Monday.

In a joint statement released by the U.S. Department of State the same day,
Washington and Manila condemned what they described as China's "coercive
actions" in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining
peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to the statement, the two sides vowed to establish robust measures
and deterrent capabilities to ensure unhindered passage through maritime
waterways, free from arbitrary control by any single nation.

Furthermore, the U.S. and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to the
1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), promising to act jointly in response to
armed attacks on either party's territory, armed forces, public vessels, or
aircraft in the Pacific area.

Regarding Taiwan, the statement noted that the U.S. and the Philippines
strongly oppose any behavior that threatens or uses force to violate the
territorial integrity or political independence of other nations.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:09:13

The Ministry of the Interior says its essential public services will remain
available throughout the Lunar New Year holiday.

Residents can call the 1996 Interior Service Hotline to get immediate help
with everything from lost ID cards to online government applications.

The ministry is also encouraging citizens to use digital services for
tasks like birth registration.

Officials say the 1996 Interior Service Hotline will operate every day
during the holiday.

Professional staff are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to answer questions
and provide real-time assistance with ministry-related issues.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:09:13

Austrian prosecutors are charging a 21-year-old man who they say planned to
attack Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts.

Vienna prosecutors say he backed the Islamic State group online and shared
its propaganda.

Prosecutors say he studied bomb-making instructions and made a small amount
of an explosive used by IS.

They also say he tried several times to buy weapons abroad and bring them
into Austria.

Authorities canceled three Taylor Swift shows in Vienna in August 2024 after
they said they stopped the plot.

The suspect is in custody and faces trial near Vienna.

Posted on 2026-02-18 13:09:13

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a Lebanese passport after
Lebanon’s president granted him citizenship.

On Monday, Infantino visited the Interior Ministry in Beirut to complete the
formal process.

Infantino thanked President Joseph Aoun during a meeting later on Monday.

Infantino has Italian and Swiss citizenship.

According to laws in Lebanon, Lebanese women cannot pass their citizenship on
to their foreign husbands and children.

But Aoun made and exception for Infantino and granted him and his family
members citizenship.

Posted on 2026-02-17 17:12:13

The United States and the Philippines have reaffirmed the importance of
regional security in the Taiwan Strait following the 12th Philippines-United
States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila Monday.

In a joint statement released by the U.S. Department of State the same day,
Washington and Manila condemned what they described as China's "coercive
actions" in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining
peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to the statement, the two sides vowed to establish robust measures
and deterrent capabilities to ensure unhindered passage through maritime
waterways, free from arbitrary control by any single nation.

Furthermore, the U.S. and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to the
1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), promising to act jointly in response to
armed attacks on either party's territory, armed forces, public vessels, or
aircraft in the Pacific area.

Regarding Taiwan, the statement noted that the U.S. and the Philippines
strongly oppose any behavior that threatens or uses force to violate the
territorial integrity or political independence of other nations.

Posted on 2026-02-17 17:12:18

The Ministry of the Interior says its essential public services will remain
available throughout the Lunar New Year holiday.

Residents can call the 1996 Interior Service Hotline to get immediate help
with everything from lost ID cards to online government applications.

The ministry is also encouraging citizens to use digital services for
tasks like birth registration.

Officials say the 1996 Interior Service Hotline will operate every day
during the holiday.

Professional staff are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to answer questions
and provide real-time assistance with ministry-related issues.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-17 17:12:18

Austrian prosecutors are charging a 21-year-old man who they say planned to
attack Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts.

Vienna prosecutors say he backed the Islamic State group online and shared
its propaganda.

Prosecutors say he studied bomb-making instructions and made a small amount
of an explosive used by IS.

They also say he tried several times to buy weapons abroad and bring them
into Austria.

Authorities canceled three Taylor Swift shows in Vienna in August 2024 after
they said they stopped the plot.

The suspect is in custody and faces trial near Vienna.

Posted on 2026-02-17 17:12:18

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a Lebanese passport after
Lebanon’s president granted him citizenship.

On Monday, Infantino visited the Interior Ministry in Beirut to complete the
formal process.

Infantino thanked President Joseph Aoun during a meeting later on Monday.

Infantino has Italian and Swiss citizenship.

According to laws in Lebanon, Lebanese women cannot pass their citizenship on
to their foreign husbands and children.

But Aoun made and exception for Infantino and granted him and his family
members citizenship.

Posted on 2026-02-17 16:08:13

A 50-year-old man was killed and his 44-year-old Vietnamese wife suffered
life-threatening injuries after a fire broke out on the top floor of a
three-story building in Taichung early today.

Police say the blaze on Leye Road in the city's East District was brought
under control at around 4:33 a.m. and fully extinguished by about 4:50 a.m.

First responders found the man dead at the scene, while his wife had managed
to escape to the ground floor.

The woman, whose name police did not disclose, was taken to intensive care
after suffering burns to around 90 percent of her body.

According to police, seven other residents, all members of the deceased man's
family, escaped safely.

Initial investigations suggest the fire originated in a closet and mattress
on the third floor, burning an area of about 30 square meters.

Posted on 2026-02-17 16:08:13

center plan

The Philippines' top envoy to Taiwan said authorities on both sides should
crack down on unscrupulous brokers who overcharge migrant workers.

Under the broker-based system, many Filipino migrant workers pay fees to
brokers in both countries -- a structure advocates say leaves them vulnerable
to overcharging.

And Corazon Avecilla-Padiernos, chairperson and resident representative of
the Manila Economic and Cultural Office says weak oversight is not limited to
either side, as labor brokers in both Taiwan and the Philippines are involved
in recruitment and "deal with each other."

Padiernos also said she would welcome a broader shift toward direct hiring if
it genuinely reduces Filipino workers' financial burden and improves
compliance, including proper contract enforcement.

Statistics from Taiwan's MInistry of Labor shows Filipino blue-collar workers
in Taiwan numbered about 173-thousand as of December last year.

Posted on 2026-02-17 16:08:13

Japan wants to ship carbon emissions to Malaysia in a first-of-its-kind
project in Southeast Asia for carbon capture and storage.

Japan, one of the world's top carbon emitters, plans to ship emissions from
its heavily polluting industries –– spanning electric power, oil refining,
cement, shipping and steel –– to Malaysia within the next few years.

If the project succeeds, experts say it may blaze a path for other Southeast
Asian nations with carbon storage potential, like Indonesia and Thailand.

Supporters of the widely debated process say it is key to curbing climate
change.

Critics label it as greenwashing and an expensive distraction from more
proven climate actions, like transitioning to renewable energy.

Malaysia wants to be Southeast Asia's hub for the technology, which is
designed to capture, transport and store carbon emissions.

Some governments and fossil fuel giants like Exxon Mobil and Shell say the
strategy can buy time for countries and industries shifting to cleaner
energy.

Posted on 2026-02-17 16:08:13

X faces a new EU privacy investigation after its Grok chatbot generated
nonconsensual deepfake images on the platform.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said on Tuesday that it has opened the
case under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.

The regulator says Grok has created and shared sexualized images of real
people, including children.

Researchers say some examples appear to involve minors.

X did not respond to a request for comment.

Posted on 2026-02-17 15:15:16

Iran's top diplomat has held talks with the U.N. nuclear watchdog in Geneva
before a second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in
a significant step after Iran suspended cooperation with the agency last
year.

After U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an additional aircraft carrier to
the region, Iran on Monday launched a second recent naval drill.

Also, sailors passing through the region received by radio a warning that the
northern lane of the Strait of Hormuz, in Iranian territorial waters, likely
would see a live-fire drill.

Posted on 2026-02-17 15:15:13

Flights to and from the Matsu islands have returned to normal after heavy fog
grounded dozens of planes over the last two days.

The Civil Aviation Administration is now coordinating extra commercial
flights and military aircraft to transport nearly 1,500 stranded passengers
today.

The Civil Aviation Administration says that while skies are now clear for
flying, sea travel remains a problem.

Poor sea conditions between Keelung and Matsu mean that ships likely cannot
help with travel until after February 18-th.

To move the large crowd of waiting travelers, Mandarin Airlines has added
two extra flights between Songshan and Nangan.

The Ministry of National Defense is also providing support, with military
transport planes expected to begin flying passengers back from Matsu this
afternoon.

Officials estimate that about 1,500 people will be able to travel by the end
of the day.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-17 15:15:20

The Vatican is marking the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St.
Peter’s Basilica with a host of visitor-friendly initiatives, including
expanding access to its spectacular terrace and its snack bar in the shadow
of Michelangelo’s great dome.

The Vatican on Monday outlined its plans to make better use of St. Peter’s
and to redistribute the millions of people who pass through it each year.

Among the initiatives are a new online reservation system to cut waiting
times and simultaneous translations for Masses in up to 60 languages.

In addition, a permanent exhibition tracing the history of the basilica is
opening on the terrace, alongside an expanded snack bar for hungry pilgrims.

Posted on 2026-02-17 14:19:13

Heavy traffic and several car crashes caused long delays across Taiwan's
national highways this morning as the Lunar New Year began.

The National Freeway Bureau reports that traffic volume started building at 6
a.m., with three separate collisions causing backups of up to four
kilometers.

By 11 a.m. today, traffic volume on all national highways reached over 37
million vehicle-kilometers.

Officials expect the total volume for the day to hit 122 million
vehicle-kilometers.

For the afternoon, the bureau is warning of more congestion.

Hotspots include the southbound lanes of National Highway 5 from Nangang to
Toucheng and the northbound lanes from Yilan to Pinglin.

Drivers on National Highway 10 near the Dingjin and Yan Chao systems should
also expect delays.

The Freeway Bureau urges travelers to use local provincial and county roads
for short trips to avoid waiting at highway ramps.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-17 14:19:13

The U.S. and Iran are expected to hold a second round of talks in Geneva
about Iran’s nuclear program as tensions rise in the region.

The session, planned for Tuesday, comes after a first round of indirect talks
held in Oman earlier in the month.

They are being held as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in the region
amid threats by President Donald Trump to use force to push a deal.

Iran also began major Revolutionary Guard naval drills near key oil shipping
routes.

Still, both sides are signaling they are willing to reach a deal, which Iran
says must include easing U.S.-led sanctions.

Posted on 2026-02-17 14:19:13

Guatemala has ended its monthlong state of emergency after deadly attacks on
police pushed President Bernardo Arevalo to seek special powers against
gangs.

The government lifted the order Monday that limited some constitutional
rights.

It had let police make arrests without a judge’s warrant.

Less restrictive measures take effect today.

Those measures will not need Congress to approve or renew them.

On Sunday, Arevalo said authorities had arrested 83 suspected gang members
during the state of emergency.

He also said homicides and extortion reports had fallen compared with a year
earlier.

Posted on 2026-02-17 13:08:13

The Financial Supervisory Commission is warning the public to be careful of
investment scams on social media and chat groups.

Officials say scammers often use fake celebrity endorsements and promises of
"guaranteed profits" to steal money from unsuspecting investors.

To help the public stay safe, the F-S-C has posted a list of legal brokers
and common scam patterns on its official website.

Various industry associations have also set up mechanisms to flag suspicious
products and companies

The commission is also highlighting new rules for virtual assets.

Since July 2024, crypto service providers must register with the F-S-C to
operate legally, and providing these services without registration is now a
crime

Officials say if unsure, members of the public can call the 165 hotline to
check for fraud.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-17 13:08:21

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will not
repatriate from Syria a group of 34 women and children with alleged ties to
the Islamic State group.

The women and children from 11 families were supposed to fly from the Syrian
capital Damascus to Australia but Syrian authorities on Monday turned them
back to Roj camp in northeast Syria because of procedural problems.

Albanese would not comment on a report that the latest women and children had
Australian passports.

Only two groups of Australians have been repatriated with government help
from Syrian camps since the Islamic State militants fell in 2019.

Posted on 2026-02-17 13:08:21

Lawyers say a new group of third-country nationals has been deported by the
United States to Cameroon.

The new deportees arrived Monday, days after it came to light that the Trump
administration sent nine people to the Central African nation last month as
part of its secretive program to remove immigrants to countries they have no
ties with.

Cameroon is the latest of at least seven African nations to strike
deportation deals with the U.S.

Lawyers say eight of the nine migrants deported last month had protection
orders in the U.S. preventing them from being sent back to their home
countries because of fear of persecution or torture.

Posted on 2026-02-17 11:06:13

The Freeway Bureau is warning of heavy traffic and congestion on 12 major
sections of freeways and highways today -- Lunar New Year's Day.

According to the bureau, traffic volume on national highways reached
50.6-million vehicle-kilometers as of 3PM on New Year's Eve and the total
forecast for yesterday was 92-million vehicle-kilometers.

The bureau says that figure is within the expected range.

However, traffic on national highways is expected to reach 122-million
vehicle-kilometers today - that's 1.3 times the average daily volume of
93-million vehicle-kilometers.

Southbound traffic is projected to reach 67-million vehicle-kilometers, 1.4
times the usual daily average.

The bureau says major congestion hot spots today will include ...

.... National Freeway No. 1 between Yangmei and Hsinchu, National Freeway No.
3 between New Taipei City's Tucheng District and Hsinchu County's Guansi
Township and National Freeway No. 5 between Yilan County and New Taipei
City's Pinglin District.

Posted on 2026-02-17 10:06:13

And,

The Yilan District Court has ordered a man suspected of injuring two elderly
people in a parcel bomb explosion to be detained on charges of attempted
murder.

The court ruling came after prosecutors' requested the man be detained
pending further investigation due to concerns he could destroy evidence.

The court says although the man is denying committing the crime, evidence,
including C-C-T-V footage and witness testimony, suggest he was involved.

The man arrested after police found copper wire, a microswitch and batteries
at his residence in Yilan County's Toucheng Township during a raid Saturday
night.

The explosion occurred earlier Saturday and the two siblings in their 70s,
suffered multiple injuries.

Police say the suspect was involved in a financial dispute with the injured
woman's 31-year-old son.

Posted on 2026-02-17 10:06:16

In international news,

Mourners in Moscow have marked two years since Russian opposition leder
Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison.

It comes as a new European analysis fuels claims he was killed by poisoning.

His family, supporters, and several European diplomats laid flowers at his
grave under heavy security.

His mother says Russian authorities killed him.

The Kremlin says Navalny died of natural causes.

However, the U-K, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands says lab tests
found a rare toxin in samples from his body linked to poison dart frogs.

Navalny's allies remain in exile and struggle to unite.

Posted on 2026-02-17 10:06:16

A rights group says drone strikes hit a busy market in Sudan's Kordofan
region, killing at least 28 people.

According to the group, the number of casualties was likely to rise and it is
demanding a halt to strikes.

It is also repeating that use of drones to target populated areas shows a
grave disregard for civilian lives and signals an escalation that threatens
what remains of daily life in the province.

The fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese military
erupted into a full-blown war across the country in 2023.

The World Health Organization says at least 40,000 people have been killed
and 12 million people have been displaced.

Posted on 2026-02-17 09:06:13

Chinese intimidation

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says China's intensifying "authoritarian
expansionism not only directly threatens Taiwan's security and democratic
system ...

..... but also poses significant challenges to peace and stability in the
Indo-Pacific region and around the world."

Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital, Lin said a conflict in the
Taiwan Strait would reverberate worldwide and peace and stability across the
Taiwan Strait are vital to global security and prosperity.

According to Lin, Taiwan is grateful to the United States and other partners
for resisting China's efforts to unilaterally alter the status quo.

Lin also said that there is clear strategic continuity between the policies
of President Donald Trump's first and second terms ..

.. and the Lai administration will seek ways to coordinate with the United
States "through values-based, alliance and economic diplomacy."

Posted on 2026-02-17 09:06:14

And,

Former president Tsai Ing-wen has taken to Facebook to says she enjoyed a New
Year's Eve dinner with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim ...

... and to thank military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and other
friends who are continuing to work over the holiday period to ensure public
safety.

Tsai also expressed her hope that everyone will eat well, sleep well, have
their wishes fulfilled, and enjoy peace and good health in the new year.

Hsiao responded in the comments by thanking Tsai for inviting her to New
Year's Eve dinner every year ..

.. and also wished everyone a happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year.

Posted on 2026-02-17 09:06:14

The British government has dropped plans to delay 30 local council elections
due in May after being advised it could lose a legal challenge.

The move piles fresh pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a series
of policy U-turns.

Starmer survived a leadership crisis last week, and his governing Labour
Party is widely expected to suffer heavy losses in the May polls following
the rise of Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party.

The government had permitted some councils to postpone their elections ahead
of an upcoming reorganisation of local government, but political opponents
had said that move was designed to minimise potential losses.

Around 4.5 million voters would have been affected by the postponements.

Posted on 2026-02-17 09:06:14

The Nigerian military has announced that about 100 U-S troops plus equipment
have arrived in the country to help train soldiers.

The arrival follows a request by the Nigerian government to the U-S
government for help with training, technical support and
intelligence-sharing.

The deployment follows an easing of tensions that had flared between the U-S
and Nigeria when U-S President Donald Trump issued threats against Nigeria
over allegations that the government was not protecting its Christian
citizens.

Posted on 2026-02-17 09:06:14

A group of 34 Australian women and children who have been held in a camp in
northern Syria for nearly seven years due to their links to the Islamic State
group were released to head home, but then returned to the camp for
"technical reasons".

The group is thought by authorities to be the wives and children of I-S
fighters.

They have been stuck in Roj detention camp - with the Australian government
refusing to officially repatriate them.

Their future now remains unclear.

Other foreign governments have also refused to repatriate their citizens with
ties to the Islamic State group.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says lawmakers will be placing President Lai
Ching-te's 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget as the first item for
review when the new session begins after the Lunar New Year holiday.

In a joint statement issued with Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang,
Han both of them will facilitate cross-party negotiations on the proposal --
stressing that they will be acting as representatives of the entire
Legislature and not a single party.

According to Han and Chiang, they value open and frank exchanges with the U-S
government and understand the views of American lawmakers ...

.... and they will work towards contributing to Taiwan's security and the
maintenance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The statement comes after 34 U-S lawmakers expressed concern last week over
the unprecedented threat from Beijing and the possibility that only part of
the eight-year, special budget would be approved.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

And,

The Taipei Astronomical Museum says a total lunar eclipse coinciding with the
Lantern Festival on March 3 will be the most notable celestial event visible
here in Taiwan this year.

According to the museum, the total lunar eclipse will be visible as the moon
rises at 5:50PM on March 3, already partly shaded by Earth's shadow.

The eclipse will peak around 7:30PM that day and the full moon will be
completely within Earth's shadow, taking on a reddish hue often called a
"blood moon."

The total phase is expected to last just under an hour.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

The British government could be set to bring in an Australian-style ban on
social media for children under the age of 16 as early as this year.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government launched a consultation on a social
media ban for under 16s last month and is now working to change legislation
so it could bring in any changes within months of the consultation
concluding.

The governmnet is also seeking to close a loophole that left some AI chatbots
outside safety rules.

Spain, Greece and Slovenia have also said they are working on bans after
Australia became the first country in the world to block access to under 16s.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of public
servant Janice Charette as the next chief trade negotiator to the United
States.

Charette will act as a senior advisor to the Prime Minister and to Dominic
LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-US trade on the upcoming review
of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

Canada sends about 70-per cent of its exports to the United States.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a continental trade pact that
has shielded much of Canada's exports from U-S tariffs.

It is up for joint review by a July 1 deadline.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

A man accused of opening fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's
Bondi Beach in an attack that killed 15 people has appeared in court for the
first time.

Naveed Akram faces 59 charges over the December 14 attack, including 15
counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and a terror
offence.

Police allege he carried out the mass shooting with his father -- who was
shot dead at the scene.

During a brief status mention at a Sydney court - Akram appeared via video
link from a maximum-security prison southwest of Sydney, where he is being
held.

The case is expected to return to court in April.

Posted on 2026-02-17 08:06:13

And finally,

Former U-S President Barack Obama has clarified comments he made about alien
life on a podcast over the weekend.

He said he didn't see evidence during his presidency that aliens have made
contact with humans.

During a lightning round of questions with podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen,
Obama said aliens were real, but that they were not being kept in Area 51.

Obama later posted on Instagram that there were strong odds of other life in
the universe given its vastness.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:13

President Lai Ching-te attended the Dharma Drum Mountain bell-ringing
ceremony on New Year's Eve to pray for blessings - and he also called on
lawmakers to quickly pass his special defense budget.

Speaking at the annual bell-ringing ceremony in New Taipei, Lai said Taiwan
faced challenges last year including severe damage in the south due to
Typhoon Danas, the collapse of the Matai'an Creek barrier lake dam in Hualien
..

... and an outbreak of African swine fever in Taichung.

However, he said those difficulties were overcame through the joint efforts
of the central and local governments and he is now hoping the Legislative
Yuan will pass the special defense budget to make the country safer.

Lai then struck the bell three times to pray for "world peace, national
prosperity, and happiness for the people."

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen also attended the bell-ringing ceremony --
ringing the bell three times to mark the end of the event.

She then delivered a congratulatory speech, expressing her hope that the new
year would promote righteousness and that everyone will work together for
peace.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:15

And,

King Liu - the founder of bicycle maker Giant - has died.

He was 93.

Liu founded the company in 1972.

In a statement issued announcing his death, Giant said Liu, was not only its
founder, but also a guiding leader who steered the organization forward while
remaining attentive to those around him.

Giant said Liu devoted his life to bicycles, believing they represented a
meaningful way of life ...

.. and he was widely respected as a lifelong advocate of cycling culture and
remained a deeply influential figure to colleagues, partners and riders
across generations.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:15

The Kremlin is claiming that it didn't kill Alexei Navalny two years ago
using toxin from poison dart frogs.

The denial follows charges from five European countries that the Russian
state killed Navalny two years ago using the toxin.

Navalny was President Vladimir Putin's most prominent domestic critic and he
died on February 16, 2024, in the "Polar Wolf" penal colony north of the
Arctic Circle about 1,900-kilomters northeast of Moscow.

His death occurred a month before Putin was re-elected for a fifth term in a
landslide vote that saw a crackdown on opponents.

Moscow has long claimed he died from natural causes.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:19

Vienna concerts.

Austrian prosecutors are charging a 21-year-old man who they say planned to
attack Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts.

Prosecutors say he backed the Islamic State group online, shared its
propaganda, studied bomb-making instructions and made a small amount of an
explosive used by I-S.

They also say he tried several times to buy weapons abroad and bring them
into Austria.

Authorities canceled three Taylor Swift shows in Vienna in August 2024 after
they said they stopped the plot.

The suspect is in custody.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:20

A Rio Carnival samba school has honored Brazil's President Luiz Lula da Silva
with a glowing parade.

However, his rivals are calling it illegal early campaigning.

The samba school filled Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome with floats and songs
about Lula's rise from poverty to national power.

The school's organizer says it is a cultural tribute, not campaign material.

Brazil's top electoral court rejected attempts to block the parade, but
judges say they might review the case if they find that rules were broken.

Posted on 2026-02-17 07:06:21

And finally,

Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall has died.

He was 93.

Duvall first gained notice for a small part as the reclusive neighbor in "To
Kill a Mockingbird."

He went on to star in classic roles including the wily confidant of the first
two "Godfather" movies .. and as the surfing fanatic commander of an air
cavalry regiment in the Vietnam war movie, "Apocalypse Now."

He won an Academy Award as best actor for portraying the over-the-hill
country music singer in the 1983 film "Tender Mercies."

Posted on 2026-02-16 17:12:14

King Liu, founder of Taiwan's leading bicycle maker Giant Group, died early
today at the age of 93.

In a statement, Giant said Liu, who founded the company in 1972, was not only
its founder but also a guiding leader who steered the organization forward
while remaining attentive to those around him.

Giant said Liu was widely respected as a lifelong advocate of cycling culture
and remained a deeply influential figure to colleagues, partners and riders
across generations."

(CNA -NS)

Posted on 2026-02-16 17:12:16

Starting March 2nd, passengers on the Taiwan Railway will be able to pay for
fare upgrades and ticket adjustments using credit cards and mobile payments
at all stations.

The new service aims to make travel more convenient for passengers who need
to change their travel plans but may not have enough cash on hand.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation announced today that its ticket supplement
counters will expand payment options beyond traditional cash.

The update allows for faster transactions for travelers who need to pay fare
differences or change their itineraries mid-trip.

The system will support a wide range of digital payment methods.

TRC officials say the change is a major step in improving the passenger
experience by providing modern and flexible payment solutions across the
entire rail network.

Posted on 2026-02-16 17:12:16

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meeting Hungary’s Prime Minister
Viktor Orban in Budapest as the two countries move to sign a civilian nuclear
cooperation deal.

Rubio's stop in Hungary comes after visiting Slovakia on Sunday following the
Munich Security Conference before that.

The trip puts him in friendly territory with leaders who back Donald Trump
and resist stronger support for Ukraine.

Orban maintains close ties with Russia and continues buying Russian energy,
and has received an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil from Trump's
administration.

Trump has been outspoken in his support for the nationalist Orban in the
Hungarian leader's bid for reelection in two months.

Orban and his Fidesz party are facing their most serious challenge in the
April 12 vote since the right-wing populist retook power in 2010.

Posted on 2026-02-16 17:12:16

Authorities say a bomb attached to a motorcycle has exploded near the gate of
a police station in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least two people,
including a child, and wounding several others.

The blast also damaged nearby shops.

Local police say the attack took place in a district in the restive Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

Though no group immediately claimed responsibility, suspicion was likely to
fall on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, who frequently target
security forces and civilians.

The TTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban
rulers in Kabul.

Posted on 2026-02-16 16:10:14

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says traffic on national
highways remained mostly normal today as families traveled for Lunar New
Year’s Eve.

Despite a minor collision on National Highway 1, authorities report that
overall traffic volume is staying within expected levels.

The National Freeway Bureau says total traffic reached over 27 million
vehicle-kilometers by 11 a.m. today.

Officials expect the total volume for the day to hit 92 million
vehicle-kilometers.

Looking ahead to this afternoon, officials identified three areas likely to
see heavy congestion...

That's

National Highway 5 heading south from Nangang to Toucheng

National Highway 6 heading west from East Caotun to the Wufeng System.

And National Highway 10 heading west from Renwu to Zuoying.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-16 16:10:18

The Ministry of Education is encouraging families to visit environmental
education centers during the Lunar New Year holiday to stay active and learn
about nature.

The ministry says most centers across the country remain open during the
break, offering a healthy alternative to sitting for long periods or playing
on mobile phones.

Officials say Shei-Pa National Park is currently promoting climate change
awareness through interactive card games and science lessons.

In Taipei, the Wild Bird Society has designed courses for elementary students
covering topics like wetlands and the water cycle.

The ministry is also reminding the public to stay moving, recommending 30
minutes of physical activity every day, or a total of 150 minutes per week.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-16 16:10:24

President Gustavo Petro said he will accept a proposal by Colombia’s largest
remaining rebel group to allow an independent commission to investigate its
alleged links to the drug trade.

The proposal was made in a video published on Jan. 20 video by Antonio
Garcia, the head of the National Liberation Army.

In the video Garcia said that while the rebels impose a tax on cocaine
traders, they do not run any drug trafficking routes or cocaine labs.

The group’s alleged relation to drug trafficking was one of the issues that
stopped peace talks from advancing in the first two years of the Petro
administration.

In a message on X Sunday, Petro said he would accept the proposal, adding
that the agency that verifies the rebel's claims should be scientific and
independent of governments, and should deliver its findings to the United
Nations.

Petro also urged the rebels to back efforts to replace coca crops in the
northeastern Catatumbo region.

Posted on 2026-02-16 16:10:24

Israel is beginning a land registration process in the occupied West Bank
that critics say can shift large areas into state control.

On Sunday, the Cabinet approved a decision to restart the long-frozen
process, which means Israeli authorities can declare an area up for
registration.

The Peace Now settlement watchdog says the process likely amounts to a major
land grab from Palestinians.

The decision is the latest step to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank.

The proposal had been put forward by some of Israel’s far-right members of
the ruling coalition.

Posted on 2026-02-16 15:07:13

Garbage and recycling schedules will vary over the Lunar New Year holiday,
with collection services remaining normal for Taipei today.

But there will be no collection services from the 17th to the 19th, while
there will be extra pick up services on the 20th.

Regular services resume on the 21st.

---

New Taipei and Taoyuan will see adjusted collection times today -- where
garbage collection will begin in the morning and end at 6 p.m.

There will be no collection from the 17 to the 19, and regular service
resumes: Feb. 20.

Do note that in New Taipei and on the days that there will be no collection
garbage can be dropped off at 70 designated locations across the area from
Feb. 17-19.

---

If you're in Taichung there will be adjusted daytime collection times today.

Rubbish will be collected at designated areas on the 17th and 19th ... there
will be no collection service on the 18th... and regular services resume on
the 20th.

---

In Tainan and Kaohsiung... there will be extra collection services today...
No services from the 17th to the 19th... extra collection services on the
20th... with regular services resuming on the 21st.

Posted on 2026-02-16 15:07:20

A man accused of killing 15 people in a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on
Sydney’s Bondi Beach has appeared in court for the first time since his
release from the hospital.

Naveed Akram did not enter pleas to the charges against him, including murder
and committing a terrorist act.

Today's court appearance focused on extending a gag order that suppresses the
identities of victims and survivors of the attack who have not chosen to
identify themselves publicly.

Defense lawyer Ben Archbold told reporters that it was too early to indicate
any intention of pleas.

Akram was wounded and his father Sajid Akram was killed in a gunbattle with
police after the shooting in December.

Posted on 2026-02-16 15:07:20

Singapore is piloting the world’s first sustainable aviation fuel levy. It
will slightly raise prices for airline passengers and cargo carriers flying
to and from the city-state, home to Southeast Asia’s busiest airport.

Singapore's levy will affect flights departing after Oct. 1 and sold after
April 1 from Changi International Airport, which handled a record 70 million
passengers last year.

Passengers will pay a surcharge based on their trips' distance and cabin.

The lowest levy of 1 Singapore dollar will apply to economy flights within
Southeast Asia.

Those traveling in premium cabin flights to the Americas will pay the most,
41.60 Singapore dollars (about $32).

For cargo, the levy is based on distance travelled and weight.

To ensure transparency, the tax will be shown on tickets and air cargo
contracts.

The aim is to encourage use of sustainable aviation fuel, which burns cleaner
than typical jet fuel.

Posted on 2026-02-16 14:31:13

The Highway Bureau is offering major discounts on public transportation to
reduce traffic jams on national highways during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Standard tickets for these routes are discounted to 60 percent of their
original price.

That's for 88 different bus routes, including medium and long-distance
national highway trips, as well as shorter routes like those between Taipei
and Yilan or Taipei and Hsinchu.

Travelers who use electronic tickets or mobile payment apps can save even
more.

Those who register their TPASS 2.0 can receive a total discount of up to 58
percent off the original fare.

Passengers who transfer to a local bus after riding a national highway bus,
the Taiwan Railway, or the High Speed Rail will also receive a discount.

Posted on 2026-02-16 14:31:13

TSG Hawks pitcher Huang Tzu-hao returned to his hometown in Penghu for the
Lunar New Year and donated funds to support his former elementary school’s
baseball team.

The professional athlete joined more than 40 other alumni at Shiquan
Elementary School on February 15-th for a special alumni game.

Huang shared his professional experience and technical skills with current
student-athletes and says the donation will go towards the school's baseball
development fund to help pay for new equipment and future tournaments.

Huang says he wanted to give back to the school that first introduced him to
baseball and expressed hope that his younger schoolmates will have better
training conditions to keep the team’s momentum going.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-16 14:31:13

North Korea says it completed a new housing district in Pyongyang for
families of soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in
Ukraine.

It's the latest effort by leader Kim Jong Un to honor the war dead.

State media photos showed Kim Jong Un walking through the new street —
called Saeppyol Street — and visiting the homes of some of the families.

He was with his increasingly prominent daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju
Ae, as he pledged to repay the “young martyrs” who “sacrificed all to
their motherland.”

In recent months, North Korea has intensified propaganda glorifying troops
deployed to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Posted on 2026-02-16 14:31:13

The chief of the U.S. Ski Team says Lindsey Vonn is preparing to fly home to
the United States a week after her crash in the Olympic downhill.

Sophie Goldschmidt told The Associated Press the team’s medical staff has
been coordinating Vonn’s recovery since the crash and subsequent helicopter
evacuation and would try to accompany her home.

Vonn has had multiple surgeries in Italy to repair a complex tibia fracture
in her left leg.

Goldschmidt says they have a great team helping her and she’ll go back to
the U.S. for further surgery.

Posted on 2026-02-16 13:12:14

The Financial Supervisory Commission is warning the public to stay alert
against credit card fraud during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday.

Officials say scam groups often use phishing websites and fake advertisements
to steal card details and one-time passwords to make unauthorized purchases.

The commission highlighted common tactics used by scammers, including sending
text messages with suspicious links or using one-page advertisements to trick
people into entering their card numbers and expiration dates.

The FSC is reminding the public to avoid clicking unknown links, never enter
credit card information on unfamiliar websites, and check records often.

The commission says the public can call their bank or the National Police
Agency’s 165 anti-fraud hotline to verify the information and protect
property.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-02-16 13:12:21

An explosion and fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China has killed eight
people and left two others with minor burns.

Authorities say a resident set off fireworks improperly near the store Sunday
afternoon in a village in Jiangsu province.

Many local governments have banned fireworks in recent years.

They cite air pollution from the smoke.

Some places eased bans last year.

Posted on 2026-02-16 13:12:21

Nineteen-year-old figure skater Li Yu-hsiang has made history for Taiwan at
the Winter Olympics in Milan after finishing 23rd in the men's competition.

Li is the first Taiwan figure skater to qualify for and compete in the Winter
Olympics in 28 years.

He finished 23rd out of 24 in the men's singles category, with a combined
score of 214.33.

Li is also the first figure skater to have qualifies for the Winter Olympics
since David Liu in 1998.

Unlike Liu, who was born in Taiwan before moving to the United States at the
age of six and training there, Li is the first figure skater based and
trained in Taiwan to qualify for the Winter Games.

Taiwan is represented by a record 10 athletes across seven sports at the
Winter Games in Milan.

Posted on 2026-02-16 13:12:25

Japan has reported its economy expanded at a 0.2% annual pace in the last
quarter, with growth for 2025 at just 1.1%.

Private consumption rose at a 0.4% annualized pace in October-December, but
that was offset by a 1.1% drop in exports.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs on imports from Japan have
taken a toll, though the economy has been growing at a lackluster pace for
years.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to roll out policies to help revive
growth after a landslide victory in a general election earlier this month.

She has promised to spend more and to suspend Japan’s sales tax on food,
among other measures.

Posted on 2026-02-16 10:05:13

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered across the Czech Republic to voice
their support for President Petr Pavel in his dispute with the country's
foreign minister.

Organizers from the Million Moments for Democracy non-governmental group says
rallies took place in some 400 municipalities.

The demonstrators followed tens of thousands who rallied in Prague two weeks
ago.

Pavel's refusal to appoint a government minister representing the right-wing
Motorists for Themselves Euro-skeptic party is at the core of the dispute.

Pavel says Filip Turek was ineligible to become the environment minister
after a daily published posts from his Facebook page found to be racist,
homophobic and sexist.

Turek apologized for some posts but denied posting others.

Posted on 2026-02-16 10:05:14

And finally,

India and Pakistan players declined to shake hands before and after the
most-anticipated group-stage game of cricket's Twenty20 World Cup.

India won by 61 runs in Colombo to secure its place in the next stage.

The game only went ahead after Pakistan reversed a decision to boycott.

India posted 175-7 and bowled out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs.

Despite the heavy defeat, Pakistan can still advance to the Super 8 round
from Group A.

The game was the first time the teams have met since the Asia Cup, won by
India.

Posted on 2026-02-16 09:05:14

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says China is the real threat to security and
is hypocritically claiming to uphold the United Nations' principles of peace.

The statement is in response to a comments by China's Foreign Minister Wang
Yi at the Munich Security Conference.

Wang addressing the annual security conference on Saturday ...saying some
countries were "trying to split Taiwan from China," blamed Japan for tensions
over the island and underscored the importance of upholding the United
Nations Charter.

According to Lin, China views Taiwan as its own territory, a view the
government in Taipei rejects - as only Taiwan's people can decide their
future ..

.. and Taiwan's sovereignty has never belonged to the People's Republic of
China - whether viewed from historical facts, objective reality or under
international law.

Posted on 2026-02-16 09:05:17

And,

Kaohsiung's Shou Shan Zoo has announced the death of one of its
longest-tenured residents -- African elephant Ali.

Ali was found dead on Saturday.

She was 52.

The zoo says although she as was relatively old, the elephant had not shown
any abnormal conditions before her sudden passing.

According to the zoo, it has asked the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology to conduct an
autopsy to determine the cause of Ali's death.

Ali joined the zoo after being transported from the U-S when she was only
five years old in 1978, the same year the zoo was founded.

Since then, Ali has been the zoo's most iconic animal and she accompanied the
zoo when it relocated to its current location in 1986.

Posted on 2026-02-16 09:05:19

Iranian state media says Tehran's top diplomat is traveling to Geneva where
the second round of nuclear negotiations with the U-S will take place.

The country's foreign minister and his delegation left for the Swiss city on
Sunday after the first round of indirect talks took place in Oman last week.

Oman will mediate the talks in Geneva.

The foreign minister is also expected to meet with his Swiss and Omani
counterparts, as well as the director general of the United Nations' atomic
watchdog -- the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Similar talks last year broke down after Israel launched what became a 12-day
war on Iran, that included the U-S bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.

Posted on 2026-02-16 07:05:13

re-Lunar New Year remarks

President Lai Ching-te says his administration will continue strengthening
national defense, advancing economic development and expanding social welfare
programs.

Lai delivered his pre-Lunar New Year remarks last night at the Xiao-Xue-shan
Radar Station in Taichung.

According to Lai, his administration will boost development across central
and southern Taiwan to achieve what he described as "his government's goal of
a balanced nation."

Lai said government will continue to advance social investment and welfare
programs to support disadvantaged groups.

He thanked troops and coast guard personnel for their "around-the-clock
efforts to protect" Taiwan ...

.. and he also expressed his appreciation to police, firefighters, healthcare
workers, customs and immigration agents and public transport workers for
"keeping society running smoothly" during the holiday.

Posted on 2026-02-16 07:05:13

The Freeway Bureau says overall traffic remained within expectations on
Sunday -- the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday.

According to the bureau, as of 5PM yesterday, traffic volume had reached
70.2-million vehicle-kilometers.

Total traffic for the day was projected at 102-million vehicle-kilometers.

Traffic on provincial highways was also mostly smooth Sunday and only brief
congestion reported on several sections linking to national freeways.

The Freeway Bureau is warning that heaviest southbound traffic is expected
today - Lunar New Year's Eve - particularly between 8AM and noon.

Posted on 2026-02-16 07:05:13

Israel is beginning a land registration process in the occupied West Bank
that critics say can shift large areas into state control.

The Cabinet has approved a decision to restart the long-frozen process, which
means Israeli authorities can declare an area up for registration.

The Peace Now settlement watchdog says the process likely amounts to a major
land grab from Palestinians.

The decision is the latest step to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank.

The proposal had been put forward by some of Israel's far-right members of
the ruling coalition.

Posted on 2026-02-16 07:05:13

French President Emmanuel Macron is callng for calm and restraint after an
activist died from injuries sustained during a beating.

The incident has become a political flashpoint.

The 23-year-old died on Saturday, having fallen into a coma after being
violently beaten on Thursday outside a conference given by a far-left member
of the European Parliament.

The activist had been present to help protect members of an anti-immigration
feminist association -- which was protesting against the event.

Le Monde newspaper has quoted prosecutors as saying they've opened an
investigation for aggravated manslaughter, but the perpetrators have not yet
been identified.

Posted on 2026-02-16 07:05:13

And finally,

LeBron James still hasn't decided whether his unprecedented 23rd N-B-A season
will be his last.

The 41-year-old has again confirmed that he's not on a farewell tour this
season with the Los Angeles Lakers - even tough he teared up during a tribute
to his career in Cleveland last month.

James is also repeating his regular declarations that he hasn't made a
decision and he is focused on the final 28 games of the regular season with
the Lakers.

James could be a free agent this summer.

James has spoken in the past about his desire to become an N-B-A owner after
his playing career, and the league could soon be exploring expansion.

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