ICRT

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:41:14

New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi says he has been keeping in frequent contact with
Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Szu-chuan.

It comes as Lee is considering running for New Taipei mayor for the KMT.

Hou says the two sides will work together to ensure city governance can be
handed over smoothly, without gaps.

He spoke while visiting a temple in New Taipei's Tucheng District during the
Lunar New Year holiday.

Hou says the priority now is doing city work well, which he calls the best
answer to voters.

He says smooth city operations can help win more public support in the future.

Asked about appearing together, Hou says they stay in touch almost every day.

He says the focus is on improving details so residents can feel the results
more clearly.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:41:14

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U.S. President Donald Trump told a new Board of Peace meeting that nations
have pledged $7 billion US dollars for a Gaza reconstruction fund.

Trump said the fund is meant to rebuild Gaza after Hamas disarms, a step that
remains uncertain.

He also said the United States will put $10 billion dollars into the Board of
Peace, without giving funding details.

The board includes Israel but does not include Palestinian representatives,
raising questions about its role.

Trump said he expects a decision soon on whether a nuclear deal with Iran is
possible, while warning of conflict if it fails.

Plans were also outlined for an international stabilization force to help
keep order in Gaza, starting in areas controlled by Israel.

Hamas said the real test is whether the board can push Israel to keep the
ceasefire and support relief and reconstruction.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:34:14

Taiwan's office in Seattle says it has donated $200-thousand US dollars to
support flood recovery in Washington state.

The donation follows historic flooding sparked by heavy rain last December
that forced large-scale evacuations.

State officials thanked Taiwan for its kindness and friendship.

The funds were presented to the American Red Cross Northwest Region to help
coordinate relief work.

Taiwan's representative, Lin Mei-cheng (???), said Taiwan understands
disaster recovery and the need for community support.

She said Taiwan and Washington state have close ties in trade, education,
technology, and culture, with a growing Taiwanese community in the state.

The Seattle chapter of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation also provided supplies
and raised additional support for victims.

The Seattle office says the donation reflects Taiwan-U.S. cooperation based
on shared democratic values and humanitarian partnership.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:34:14

The National Freeway Bureau says there were more than 20 incidents on
national freeways by late morning today.

It says the crashes caused backups and slowed overall traffic flow.

The bureau says morning congestion was seen on parts of Freeway 1, Freeway 3,
and Freeway 5, while other stretches were mostly normal.

It says total traffic volumes so far remain within the day's expected range.

For the afternoon, the bureau warns several key sections are likely to clog
up, including northbound stretches of Freeway 1 and Freeway 3 and the
northbound Freeway 5 run toward Pinglin.

It also flags some westbound routes in central and southern Taiwan as
congestion-prone.

The bureau urges drivers to check real-time conditions on the Freeway 1968
site and app.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:34:14

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the Ninth Party Congress, North
Korea's biggest political meeting held every five years.

State media says Kim claimed the country met major economic goals and
overcame stagnation over the past five years.

Kim said the period brought gains in politics, defense, culture, and
diplomacy, and stronger self-reliance.

He did not mention relations with the United States or South Korea, and he
did not refer to nuclear weapons.

KCNA says party members submitted new goals and plans for the next five years
at the meeting.

Analysts are watching for possible leadership changes, including whether Kim
takes the title of president and whether his daughter Ju Ae appears.

Outside observers also expect displays of military capability during the
congress period, possibly including a parade.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:34:14

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will direct federal agencies to begin
releasing government files related to aliens and unidentified flying objects.

Trump says he will ask Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and other agencies to make
the information public.

He says there is strong public interest and calls the topic extremely
interesting and important.

Trump also accused former President Barack Obama of wrongly discussing
classified information about aliens, without offering evidence.

Obama has said he saw no evidence during his presidency that
extraterrestrials made contact with the United States.

The Pentagon has investigated UFO reports for years and has said it found no
evidence that aliens visited Earth.

A Pentagon report last year said most sightings were misidentified ordinary
objects or natural phenomena.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:26:14

The Foreign Ministry says peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are a
shared interest of the international community.

The statement follows remarks by Japan's foreign minister who again stressed
the importance of stability across the strait.

MOFA says democracies should keep working together to counter the expansion
of authoritarianism.

It urges countries to stay focused on Taiwan Strait developments and take
concrete steps to help protect security.

The ministry notes Japan has raised the Taiwan Strait issue at multiple major
international meetings in recent months.

It also says Japan has voiced concern to China during high-level talks and
during China's military drills around Taiwan.

Taiwan says it will continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities and
whole-of-society resilience.

The ministry says it will also work closely with partners to support peace,
stability, and prosperity in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:26:15

Tainan is hosting a Pokemon GO Tour through tomorrow at Tainan Metropolitan
Park and the Chimei Museum plaza.

City officials say parking around the Chimei Museum is limited and they are
urging visitors to use city buses, as the Lunar New Year holiday travel rush
will add to traffic in the area.

The Transportation Bureau says roads near Highway 1 and the Highway 86 Tainan
interchange are expected to be especially busy.

The city is also running free event shuttle buses to the main venue from
major pickup points.

Visitors can also take Taiwan Railways to Bao'an Station and walk to the site.

The bureau says it will monitor congestion hot spots and adjust traffic
signals as needed.

It also reminds drivers that some freeway interchanges may have holiday
controls, so alternate expressways may help.

Posted on 2026-02-20 14:26:15

Britain's King Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on
Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Police are investigating allegations that he sent confidential government
documents to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a trade envoy.

Thames Valley Police questioned him for much of the day and later released
him under investigation.

King Charles said he was deeply concerned and that the family will cooperate
with authorities.

Police say they have opened a formal investigation and will give updates when
appropriate.

Andrew has denied wrongdoing linked to Epstein and has said he regrets their
friendship.

The police probe is separate from past civil claims involving Epstein-related
sexual abuse allegations.

Posted on 2026-02-20 13:40:14

Freeway officials say northbound traffic on Freeway 5 is backing up near the
Hsuehshan Tunnel.

They say several entrances, including Toucheng, Yilan, Luodong, and Su'ao,
are seeing queues.

An hourly update shows northbound trips to the Nangang System are taking well
over an hour from multiple Yilan starting points.

Officials say the Highway 9 option can be faster for some drivers heading
back toward New Taipei and Taipei.

On the southbound side, traffic at the Nangang System remains busy, but
mainline travel toward Toucheng is still under half an hour.

Officials say the Highway 9 alternate route is taking much longer than the
freeway for drivers going to Yilan.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time, check live updates, and follow ramp
controls and on-site signs.

Posted on 2026-02-20 13:40:14

The Centers for Disease Control says ER visits for flu-like illness and
diarrhea usually peak during the Lunar New Year break.

The agency says visits on the third day of the holiday fell compared with the
second day.

It reports about 3-thousand-100 flu-like illness visits in ERs, down about
one-fifth from the day before.

The CDC says that level is also far lower than the same holiday period last
year.

For diarrhea, the agency reports about 2-thousand-600 ER visits, slightly
lower than the previous day.

The CDC says most cluster outbreaks of diarrhea are linked to norovirus.

It says symptoms can be worse for infants, older adults, and people with
weaker immune systems.

The agency urges handwashing with soap, thorough cooking, and staying home
until at least 2 days after symptoms end.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-20 13:40:14

Local staff say Hehuanshan saw two rounds of ice pellets this morning,
coating the area like white frosting.

They say visitors on Lunar New Year trips stopped to take photos near Songxue
Lodge as cars and ground turned silvery white.

The Central Weather Administration describes snow pellets as small, round
solid precipitation that breaks apart more easily than snow.

The Highway Bureau warns high-altitude sections of Provincial Highway 14A
could ice over overnight.

Officials say the Cuifeng to Dayuling stretch will go into a preventive
closure from 5 PM, allowing vehicles to leave but not enter.

They add the Wuling to Songxue Lodge section will be closed both ways because
the road is steep, winding, and slippery.

The bureau says it will review conditions at 8 AM tomorrow and may require
snow chains before reopening.

Drivers are advised to check updates, carry chains, and slow down on mountain
roads.

Posted on 2026-02-20 13:40:14

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez has signed into law an amnesty
bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and
many others.

The move effectively acknowledges that the government has held hundreds of
people in prison for political motivations.

The approval marks a stark turn for the South American nation, where
authorities have for decades denied holding any political prisoners.

It is the latest policy reversal following the stunning U.S. military raid in
the country’s capital, Caracas, to capture then-President Nicolas Maduro.

Posted on 2026-02-20 13:40:14

Thai police say they've caught an elusive serial burglar by going undercover
as lion dancers at a temple fair.

Police say the 33-year-old broke into a senior police commander’s home three
times this month, stealing valuables worth over 2 million NT, but evaded
three attempts to arrest him.

Bangkok police released a video that shows officers in a red-and-gold lion
costume moving closer to the suspect as he walked through an annual fair in
Nonthaburi near Bangkok on Wednesday.

An officer then drops the lion's papier-mache head before lunging at the
suspect and pinning him to the ground.

Police traced the suspect through stolen amulets he sold.

They say he confessed.

Posted on 2026-02-20 12:27:13

Freeway control officials say traffic is heavy at the Nangang System heading
south toward Yilan.

They say the Nangang mainline and the Snow Mountain Tunnel approach are both
seeing strong flow.

Officials also report southbound backups from Freeway 3 connecting to Freeway
5 in the Xizhi and Muzha areas.

They add that the Shiding entrance from Highway 106B is clear.

For Freeway 5 southbound, officials say the mainline remains the faster
choice to Toucheng right now.

They say the Highway 9 alternate route from Xindian Qingtan is taking longer
than the mainline.

Drivers are advised to allow extra time and follow on-site signs and live
updates.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-20 12:27:13

The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation says whole-blood safety stocks average
only 3.8 days nationwide.

It says the Taichung Blood Donation Center is in the tightest spot, with type
O blood down to 1.2 days.

The foundation says normal inventory should cover 7 to 10 days, and anything
under 4 days is an acute shortage alert.

It says current averages are 4.4 days for type A, 4.7 for type B, 2.9 for
type O, and 5.3 for type AB.

The foundation says Taichung has just 1.2 to 3.2 days of type A, B, and O
blood, which could affect routine and emergency hospital needs.

It says it has started a transfer system, and Taipei, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung
have provided 490 bags of blood as of yesterday.

The foundation says type O supplies are low across Taiwan, so only 40 bags
could be sent to Taichung.

It says medical demand does not fall during the Lunar New Year holiday, and
it is urging eligible donors to give blood at nearby sites.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-20 12:27:13

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in
prison for his brief imposition of martial law to suppress the opposition.

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Yoon guilty of mobilizing
military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led
National Assembly, arrest politicians and establish unchecked power for a
considerable time.

Yoon is likely to appeal the verdict. Yoon fell from office after an
ill-advised attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled legislature by
declaring martial law and sending troops to surround the legislature on Dec.
3, 2024.

A special prosecutor had requested the death penalty, saying Yoon deserved
harsh punishment for the threat his actions posed to the country’s
democracy.

Posted on 2026-02-20 12:27:13

Iran held annual military drills with Russia as a second American aircraft
carrier drew closer to the Middle East.

Both the United States and Iran are signaling they are prepared for war if
talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes 10 to 15 days is enough
time for Iran to reach a deal.

But talks on its nuclear program have been deadlocked for years, and Iran has
refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands that it scale back its
missile program and sever ties to armed groups.

Indirect talks held in recent weeks made little visible progress, and one or
both sides could be buying time for final war preparations.

Posted on 2026-02-20 12:27:13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched India as a major hub for artificial
intelligence, built at home and used worldwide.

On Thursday, Modi told an AI summit in New Delhi that India wants to “design
and develop in India” and deliver to humanity.

The summit was also addressed by world leaders and tech CEOs, including
French President Emmanuel Macron, Google's Sundar Pichai and U.N.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres called for a $3 billion global AI fund to help poorer countries
build skills, data access and computing.

India highlighted its digital ID and payments systems as a model for low-cost
AI. But it still trails in building top AI models.

Posted on 2026-02-20 11:06:13

The Taipei City Department of Social Welfare says, it assisted 200 homeless
people in finding housing over the past 3 years.

The city states that, in 2020, there were over 600 registered homeless people
in the city, but that number sat at under 400 at the end of last year.

Officials say, the key lies in early intervention and understanding of needs
of homeless individuals.

Activists emphasize the importance of fostering relationships with homeless
individuals through building trust by delivering meals.

Separately, Social Welfare officials say that 60% of the registered homeless
people in Taipei are over the age of 60.

That means, the emphasis is not necessarily on finding employment, as many
available jobs have high entry barriers.

The Social Affairs department says, it's promoting community-based job
placement with a pay of 700 NT daily, allowing homesless individuals to
engage in community service or cleaning and maintenance.

Posted on 2026-02-20 11:06:14

Now turning to international news...

A new amnesty bill signed into law in Venezuela has the potential to lead to
the release of political prisoners in the country.

The move by acting President Delcy Rodriguez effectively acknowledges that
the government has held hundreds of people in prison for political reasons.

It marks a stark reversal by Caracas, as authorities have long denied holding
any political prisoners.

The bill could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers,
journalists, and many others.

Rodriguez proposed the bill late last month and signed the measure into law
hours after it was approved by the country's legislature.

The bill's purpose is to grant people "a general and full amensty for crimes
or offenses committed" over specific periods marked by politically-driven
conflicts.

Posted on 2026-02-20 11:06:14

The US has announced a trade agreement with Indonesia.

That's as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is in DC to attend the first
meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

Under the agreement, Indonesia will eliminate tariffs for 99% of US goods
while the US would keep tariffs on most Indonesian goods at 19%.

Indonesian and U.S. companies also reached several business deals this week...

covering agricultural products and cooperation on critical minerals and
computer chips.

Posted on 2026-02-20 11:06:16

And, in Kosovo, Christian and Muslim communities this week embarked on a
traditional period of fasting and spiritual reflection...

as Ramadan and Ash Wednesday coincided.

Kosovo is more than 90% muslim and is still reeling from a war in the late
90s in which it fought for independence from its primarily Christian neighbor
Serbia.

In the aftermath of the conflict that killed 13000 people, authorities have
pledged to promote religious and ethnic tolerance.

This week, Catholics in the capital of Pristina gathered at the city's Mother
Teresa Cathedral to receive ashes...

while the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began yesterday.

Locals say, it's a special opportunitiy to fast and pray together.

Posted on 2026-02-20 10:07:13

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has made a trip to Kaohsiung to hand out
customary fortune bags to members of the public.

The vice president also took part in a prayer at the Fengshan Dai Tian Fu in
the city's Fengshan district.

People lined up to greet Hsiao, who said she hoped the new year would bring
unity and prosperity to the people of Taiwan and of Kaohsiung.

Meanwhile President Lai Ching-te visited Hsinchu and Taoyuan yesterday as
well, in similar festivities.

Posted on 2026-02-20 10:07:17

The Freeway Bureau is warning of heavy traffic today.

They say, areas expected to be especially congested include the National
Highway Number 1 northbound from Xiluo to Puayn as well as Nantun to Houli...

in addition to the National Highway 5 northbound from Yilan to Pinglin...

and the National Highwyay 4 westbound from Tanzi to Fengshi.

Officials estimate a total traffic volume today or 134 million
vehicle-kilometers.

As of 5am today, the amount of vehicles on the road was already 2.8 times
higher than usual.

According to official numbers, yesterday's traffic volume was over 131
million vehicle-kilometers.

As of this hour, northbound National Highway 5 from Yilan into Taipei is
looking pretty backed up...

while northbound sections of National Highway 1 through Taichung are seeing
some heavy traffic as well.

Posted on 2026-02-20 10:07:20

Now turning to international news...

North Korea has opened its most important political event, where leader Kim
Jong Un is expected to map out his domestic and foreign policy agenda for the
next 5 years.

State media said that Kim emphasized the economy during his speech at the
opening of the Workers' Party Congress.

Kim said that country has made significant progress since the last congress
in 2021, citing economic gains and a firmer regional footing that he said
marked an irreversible strenthening of the state's status.

Kim in recent years has leveraged Russia’s war on Ukraine to advance his
nuclear and missile capabilities and tighten alignment with Moscow, providing
thousands of troops and substantial military equipment to sustain Russia’s
campaign.

Some believe he may be doing so in exchange for economic aid and military
technologies.

He has also pursued stronger relations with China, traditionally the North’s
primary ally and economic lifeline, traveling to Beijing last year for a
World War II event and having his first summit in six years with Chinese
President Xi Jinping.

Posted on 2026-02-20 10:07:20

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has reappeared in public after almost 7
weeks of unexplained absence.

In remarks at an event yesterday, Morales, endorsed candidates for upcoming
regional elections and downplayed rumors that he fled the country after the
US abduction of his ally, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.

Morales has spent the past year in the remote Chapare region of Bolivia
evading an arrest warrant on human trafficking charges.

The media outlet of Morales' coca-growing union released footage of the
socialist leader as he arrived at a stadium a central town to address
supporters.

He said that he had had from chikungunya fever and suffered complications.

Morales was Bolivia's first Indigenous president, serving from 2006 until
2019, and is the founder of the long-ruling Movimiento al Socialismo.

Posted on 2026-02-20 09:14:13

President Lai Ching-te has made his customary Lunar New Year rounds to hand
out fortune bags in several municipalities.

The president visited Hsinchu's Xiangshan God of Wealth and Beibu Citian
Temples to take part in temple prayers and hand out the bags.

He was accompanied by DPP heavyweights including Ke Jian Ming and Fan Yun...

as well as Zhubei Mayor Zheng Chao Fang.

In remarks, he thanked the public for efforts to move Taiwan forward and
touted recent positive economic indicators.

Lai added that he would continue to fight to strengthen national defense and
the economy.

Afterwards, the president also visited Taoyuan's Jingfu Temple to hand out
the Year of the Horse fortune bags and called on the public to work together
to make Taiwan stronger.

Posted on 2026-02-20 09:14:19

Now turning to international news...

Argentina's largest labor unions are staging a one-day nationwide strike to
protest the president's overhaul of the country's labor laws.

President Javier Milei's goverment considers the reform of Argentina's 50
year old labor laws crucial to its efforts to attract foreign investment,
increase productivity, and boost formal hiring.

However, the bill faces an uncertain passage through the lower house of
Congress.

It's the first big test of the president's political strength since his
libertarian party won midterm elections last year.

The unions organizing the strike say that the law will weaken long-standing
protections for workers.

Most bus lines and subways in the country ground to a halt, factories paused
production, banks closed, airlines canceled flights, and public hospitals
postponed all but emergency surgeries.

Meanwhile uncollected garbage lined streets and shopping areas.

The show of force from the General Confederation of Labor, or CGT,
Argentina’s largest trade union group, comes as frustration simmers over an
uneven economic recovery under Milei.

His government has brought fiscal stability to a nation once plagued by
runaway inflation but struggled to address stubborn unemployment, stagnant
wages and lagging growth.

Posted on 2026-02-20 08:16:13

The medical team responsible for the care of the Penghu magistrate says, Chen
Guang-fu's condition is improving following emergency surgery.

That's after Chen was flown from Penghu to Kaohsiung with a brain bleed
earlier this week.

The 70 year pold Chen lost his footing while walking downstairs and hit his
head on the ground on Tuesday during a public event in Penghu.

After his heart stopped and he lost consciousness, Chen was rushed to the
National Defense Medical University Tri-Service General Hospital Penghu
Branch.

In accordance with his family's wishes, Chen was later transferred to
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital.

Doctors there says that Chen's condition has improved following emergency
surgery.

He is now in a postoperative intensive care unit.

Chen is expected to start his rehabilitation soon.

A statement was also posted on Chen's Facebook page yesterday thanking his
friends, supporters, and medical team.

Posted on 2026-02-20 08:16:13

Taiwan’s national baseball team has begun its second phase of training in
Taipei as it prepares for the World Baseball Classic next month.

The squad returned to the Taipei Dome yesterday after completing its first
training camp in Kaohsiung.

Japan-based pitchers Gu Lin Ruei-yang (古林睿煬), Sun Yi-lei (孫易磊), and
20-year-old Zhang Jun-wei have now joined the team.

Zhang, the youngest player on this year’s roster, is a right-hander of the
Nipon Professional Baseball's Fuku-oka Softbank Hawks team.

Coaches say the staff will be watching how he adapts to the WBC’s pitching
limits and game tempo, but they add that being selected already proves he has
the ability.

Meanwhile, CPBL officials say U.S.-based players are expected to join the
team in Miyazaki, Japan, later this month.

As for 2 Taiwanese-American players Jonathon Long and Stuart Fairchild,
officials say discussions are ongoing about having them arrive in Taiwan
early.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-20 08:16:13

Now turning to international news...

Iran and Russia have held annual military drills as a second US aircraft
carrier draws closer to the Middle East.

Both the US and Iran are signaling that they're prepared for war if talks on
Tehran's nuclear program don't pan out.

US President Donald Trump says that he believes 10 to 15 days isenough time
for Iran to reach a deal...

but talks on its nuclear program have been at a stalemate for years, and Iran
has refused to discuss wider US and Israeli demands that it downsize its
missile program and cut ties to armed groups.

Indirect talks held in recent weeks made little visible progress,

Iran’s theocracy is more vulnerable than ever following 12 days of Israeli
and U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites and military last year, as well as mass
protests in January that were violently suppressed.

But it is still capable of striking Israel and U.S. bases in the region, and
has warned that any attack would trigger a regional war.

Posted on 2026-02-20 08:16:13

Posted on 2026-02-20 07:06:13

A boy has died after a boat he was riding in capsized yesterday.

The 9 year old was riding a swan pedal boat at Liyu Lake Scenic Area in
Hualien.

He was among a group of family members who arrived in the area around 2pm.

The boy was riding a boat with his parents and other family members when it
capsized about 20 meters from shore.

Nearby visitors were able to rescue the four adults, but the child was only
later pulled out of the water by a bystander.

Witnesses say the boy was trapped under the boat for several minutes and
showed no signs of a heartbeat.

CPR was performed until emergency personnel arrived but the boy was later
pronounced dead at the hospital.

Officials say the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Posted on 2026-02-20 07:06:13

The Interior Ministry says demand has been strong for government-backed
housing units reserved for newlyweds and families with young children.

In 2025, a total of 1-thousand 022 so-called “marriage and child-rearing
units” were made available for rent, drawing more than 2-thousand 700
applications.

Under a Cabinet-approved program aimed at supporting young families, 20
percent of centrally built social housing units are now set aside for couples
married within the past two years or families with preschool-aged children.

Eligible tenants can rent the units for up to 12 years

The ministry says several projects in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and
Kaohsiung have already been fully occupied, with many newlywed couples and
young families moving in before the Lunar New Year.

Looking ahead, the government plans to expand the program beyond the six
special municipalities to other key administrative areas.

Posted on 2026-02-20 07:06:13

Now turning to international news...

UN-backed investigators say, Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have
carried out a campaign that shows "hallmarks of genocide" against non-Arab
communities.

Investigators believe that the RSF inflicted mass killings and
starvation-like siege conditionsin the city of el-Fasher.

UN officials say thousands of civilians were killed and many others
disappeated after the city fell to the paramilitary forces in October.

The team's report describes executions, rape, torture, abductions and
selective targeting of women and girls.

It said the violence looks planned, not chaotic...

and they're calling for accountability and stronger civilian protection as
the war spreads.

Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions
between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital of
Khartoum and spread to other regions, including Darfur.

According to UN numbers, the war has so far killed more than 40,000 people.

Aid groups, however, say that's an undercount and the true number could be
many times higher.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:45:13

Today is a relatively mild day in the north, and weather forcasters say
temperatures across Taiwan will continue to rise tomorrow.

The Central Weather Administration says most areas will see partly cloudy to
sunny skies.

But brief showers are still expected in eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun
Peninsula.an.

Morning lows will range from 14 to 17 degrees Celsius in the north, while
daytime highs will reach between 22 degrees in the north and east,25 degrees
in central areas, and up to 27 degrees in the south.

Forecasters also warn of low clouds or patchy fog in areas north of central
Taiwan from early morning through late morning, which could reduce
visibility.

Warmer weather is expected to continue through the 24th, though temperature
differences between day and night could exceed 10 degrees in many areas
though the weekend.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:45:13

In world news....

A South Korean court has found ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of
masterminding an insurrection.

The 65-year-old former President has been sentenced to life in prison over
his botched attempt in December 2024 at imposing military rule.

Yoon's order lasted just six hours but shook the country - it paralysed what
was left of the government and cost his party the next election

Yoon is already serving jail time for another conviction over the martial law
order.

He still faces two more trials in relation to it.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:07:13

The Interior Ministry says demand has been strong for government-backed
housing units reserved for newlyweds and families with young children.

In 2025, a total of 1-thousand 022 so-called “marriage and child-rearing
units” were made available for rent, drawing more than 2-thousand 700
applications.

Under a Cabinet-approved program aimed at supporting young families, 20
percent of centrally built social housing units are now set aside for couples
married within the past two years or families with preschool-aged children.

Eligible tenants can rent the units for up to 12 years

The ministry says several projects in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and
Kaohsiung have already been fully occupied, with many newlywed couples and
young families moving in before the Lunar New Year.

Looking ahead, the government plans to expand the program beyond the six
special municipalities to other key administrative areas.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:07:13

Inside Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control is a group of unusual
“residents” — carefully kept under constant temperature and humidity
control.

At the CDC’s Vector Laboratory, more than 150,000 specimens have been
collected from across Taiwan over the past six decades.

The collection includes mosquitoes, rats, cockroaches, flies, ticks, and
mites — some dating back to 1965.

Health officials say the specimens were gathered by generations of disease
prevention experts, including pioneers known as Taiwan’s “mosquito
doctors,” who traveled throughout the island to document outbreaks and trace
disease sources.

A five-member team cares daily for between 5,000 and 8,000 adult mosquitoes,
along with nearly 10,000 larvae — all to provide scientific evidence and
support for Taiwan’s disease prevention efforts.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:07:13

In world news...

A gas explosion has ripped through an apartment building in Pakistan’s
largest port city of Karachi, killing at least 16 people.

The death toll comes after part of the structure collapsed on the first day
of Ramadan.

Police said several people were also injured in the pre-dawn explosion today
in Karachi.

Rescuers are still removing rubble to search for any survivors trapped under
the debris.

Most houses and apartment buildings in Pakistan are supplied with natural gas
for cooking.

However, many households also rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders
because of low natural gas pressure, and such incidents are common.

Posted on 2026-02-19 17:07:13

Social media sites will have 48 hours to remove intimate images after they're
flagged for being shared without consent, under new UK proposals.

The legislation would see tech platforms that don't comply fined up to 10% of
global revenue, or blocked in the UK.

It's being described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as an 'ongoing battle'
his government is waging with tech firms, on behalf of victims.

Minister for Victims & Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones,
says the proposals would have a significant impact.

Posted on 2026-02-19 16:06:13

Taiwan’s national baseball team has begun its second phase of training in
Taipei as it prepares for the World Baseball Classic in March.

The squad returned to the Taipei Dome today after completing its first
training camp in Kaohsiung.

Japan-based pitchers Gu Lin Ruei-yang (古林睿煬), Sun Yi-lei (孫易磊), and
20-year-old Zhang Jun-wei have now joined the team.

Zhang, the youngest player on this year’s roster, is a right-hander of the
Nipon Professional Baseball's Fuku-oka Softbank Hawks team.

Head coach Zeng Hao-ju says the coaching staff will be watching how he adapts
to the WBC’s pitching limits and game tempo, but adds that being selected
already proves he has the ability.

Meanwhile, CPBL chair Cai Qi-chang says overseas players are coordinating
their reporting dates. U.S.-based players are expected to join the team in
Miyazaki, Japan, later this month.

As for 2 Taiwanese-American players Jonathon Long and Stuart Fairchild, Cai
says discussions are ongoing about having them arrive in Taiwan early.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-19 16:06:14

As the Lunar New Year holiday passes its halfway mark, air traffic between
Penghu and Taiwan is entering another peak travel period with more than 5,000
passengers returned to Taiwan today.

A total of 57 flights operated on the Penghu–Taiwan routes, with two Airbus
A321s and two Boeing 737-800s added to boost capacity.

Airport officials say overall passenger transport has been smooth.

However, some flights were delayed after an aircraft warning light issue
required inspection.

A Penghu-to-Taipei flight was delayed by more than an hour.

To assist residents returning during the holiday, the Penghu County
Government has set up a service desk at the airport from January 20th through
the 23rd to provide standby and travel assistance.

Officials say they will continue coordinating with airlines to arrange
additional flights if needed, in order to meet demand and ensure travelers
can return to Taiwan smoothly.

Posted on 2026-02-19 16:06:14

In world news....

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in
prison for his brief imposition of martial law to suppress the opposition.

The Seoul Central District Court today found Yoon guilty of mobilizing
military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the National
Assembly, arrest politicians and establish unchecked power for a considerable
time.

Yoon is likely to appeal the verdict.

Yoon fell from office after an attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled
legislature by declaring martial law and sending troops to surround the
legislature on Dec. 3rd, 2024.

A special prosecutor had requested the death penalty, saying Yoon deserved
harsh punishment for the threat his actions posed to the country’s
democracy.

The court also convicted and sentenced several former military and police
officials involved in enforcing Yoon’s martial law decree, including
ex-Defense Minister, who received a 30-year jail term.

Posted on 2026-02-19 16:06:14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched India as a major hub for artificial
intelligence, built at home and used worldwide.

Modi told an AI summit in New Delhi today that India wants to “design and
develop in India” and deliver to humanity.

The summit was also addressed some world leaders and tech CEOs, including
French President Emmanuel Macron, Google's Sundar Pichai and U.N.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres called for a $3 billion-U.S.-dollar global AI fund to help poorer
countries build skills, data access, and computing.

India highlights its digital ID and payments systems as a model for low-cost
AI.

But it still trails in building top AI models.

With nearly 1 billion internet users, India has become a key market for
global technology companies expanding their AI businesses.

Posted on 2026-02-19 15:07:14

Wulai in New Taipei is best known for its hot springs and waterfall — but
it’s also home to Taiwan’s very first sightseeing cable car and the
country’s only remaining forestry trolley railway.

The cable car at Yun-Xian Resort, which began operating in 1967, was
originally built during the Japanese colonial era to transport logging
workers.

After World War Two, it was converted into a passenger system, becoming
Taiwan’s first aerial sightseeing cable car.

Spanning the Nanshi River with a vertical drop of 180 meters, the cable car
was constructed with the help of local Atayal Indigenous people.

Now in its sixth generation, it can carry up to 71 passengers and has
maintained a zero-accident record for nearly 60 years.

Meanwhile, the Wulai trolley — originally built in 1928 by a Japanese
company to transport timber — once stretched nearly 80 kilometers.

As logging declined and roads opened, the line was transformed into a tourist
attraction.

Today, about 1.5 kilometers of track remain between Wulai Old Street and the
waterfall area, making it Taiwan’s only surviving light forestry railway.

Posted on 2026-02-19 15:07:14

Water levels at Sun Moon Lake have dropped below 70 percent, prompting safety
adjustments at several docks.

According to the Water Resources Agency, the reservoir’s storage rate stood
at 69 percent this morning, with the water level at 743 meters — down from
more than 81 percent just a week ago.

In response, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Office has activated
contingency measures.

Floating platforms at the Xuan-guang, Chao-wu, and Ita Thao piers have been
relocated from the No. 1 pontoons to deeper No. 4 pontoons to maintain
operations and prevent damage caused by low water levels.

Authorities have also closed the right-side access bridges at Xuan-guang and
Ita Thao.

Officials say rainfall has been below average, and water levels are
expected to drop further.

If dry conditions persist, additional measures — including potential pier
closures — may be implemented to ensure visitor safety.

Visitors are advised to follow on-site instructions, hold handrails firmly
when boarding, watch their step, and avoid running, as steeper ramp angles
during the dry season increase safety risks.

Officials say they are closely monitoring water conditions and will take
further action if necessary.

Posted on 2026-02-19 15:07:14

In world news...

Japanese Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi says she hopes to deepen her
relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

She wants to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in rare earths
development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington
next month.

Japan is also under pressure to increase annual defense spending.

Taka-ichi was reelected as prime minister Wednesday after a landslide
election victory last week.

She is gearing up to work on policies she says are needed to make Japan
stronger and more prosperous.

The Prime Minister is using her Liberal Democratic Party’s two-thirds
supermajority in the lower house.

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

Posted on 2026-02-19 14:11:13

The Cabinet’s Consumer Protection Committee is reminding the public to pay
close attention to group tours, accommodation bookings, and car rentals.

For group tours, officials say travelers should choose licensed and reputable
agencies and carefully review contract terms.

Advertisements and itineraries are considered part of the contract and should
be kept on file in case of disputes.

If a travel agency fails to deliver promised transportation, lodging, or tour
items due to its own fault, travelers may claim compensation of up to twice
the price difference.

However, if changes are caused by inevitable accidents such as bad weather,
agencies cannot charge additional fees and must refund any reduced costs.

Travelers heading overseas are also advised to monitor government travel
alerts.

For domestic accommodation, travelers should check Tourism Administration’s
Taiwan-stay Net to confirm that hotels or guesthouses are legally registered,
and to avoid illegal short-term rentals.

As for rental cars, consumers are urged to confirm vehicle condition and
contract terms in advance.

It's a good idea to inspect the vehicle thoroughly before pick-up, document
any existing damage, and take photos for record.

In case of accidents, drivers should report to police and notify the rental
company immediately.

Posted on 2026-02-19 14:11:13

A Tai-nan agricultural research station recently developed a new sesame
variety, "Tainan No. 2," with 35 percent lower production costs and higher
oil content, boosting the competitiveness of Taiwan's domestic sesame
industry.

According to Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan relies heavily on imported
sesame, with domestic production accounting for only a small fraction.

In 2024, imports totaled 38-thousand tons, while domestic output was just
1-thousand 300 tons -- about 3 percent of the imported volume.

To strengthen domestic production, the research station has been promoting
"Tainan No. 2" to local farmers. The variety has two key features --
low-shattering pods and improved suitability for mechanical harvesting.

In agricultural terms, "shattering" refers to seeds falling out of pods
before harvest. A low-shattering variety keeps seeds intact, reducing loss
and making mechanical harvesting easier.

Agriculture experts said the variety marks a major milestone for domestically
produced sesame in moving toward sustainable production.

Posted on 2026-02-19 14:11:13

Turning to international news...

Peru’s Congress has elected legislator Jose Maria Balcazar as the country’s
new interim president, replacing another interim leader who was removed over
allegations of corruption just four months into his term.

With a majority in the 130-member legislature, Balcazar became Peru’s eighth
president in a decade on Wednesday after defeating three other candidates.

On Tuesday, Congress voted to remove conservative interim president Jose Jeri
after four months in office. The current Congress, which began its term in
2021, has now impeached three heads of state.

Balcazar, an 83-year-old former judge representing the leftist Peru Libre
party, will govern for five months before handing over power to the winner of
general elections on April 12, when Peruvians will choose a new president.

Balcazar successor will confront a surge in murders and extortion that
continues to devastate small business owners and the working class.

Posted on 2026-02-19 14:11:13

Japanese Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi says she hopes to deepen her
relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
She wants to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in rare earths
development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington
next month.

Taka-ichi was reelected as prime minister Wednesday after a landslide
election victory last week.

She is gearing up to work on policies she says are needed to make Japan
stronger and more prosperous.

Japan is also under pressure to increase annual defense spending.

The Prime Minister is using her Liberal Democratic Party’s two-thirds
supermajority in the lower house.

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

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."

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