Deaths and injuries among children under 14 in Taiwan rose 33 percent in 2025
compared with the previous year.

The Jing-juan (靖娟) Child Safety Foundation said traffic safety incidents
again accounted for the largest share.

The foundation said the figures were based on an analysis of 265 child
accident cases reported in the media during the year.

The incidents resulted in 47 child deaths and over 300 injuries, with traffic
safety remaining the most serious category.

The Foundation reminds people that proper use of a child safety seat can
reduce neck impact by about 73 percent and lower the risk of death in an
accident by about 70 percent.

Rear-facing seating can further improve safety by about 75 percent.

A longtime US Taiwan expert says the outlook for Washington's commitment to
Taiwan is positive despite recent mixed signals.

ICRT Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.

KMT Chair Zheng Li-wen has refuted media reports that her deputy agreed to
work towards "reunification" at a meeting with top Chinese officials.

Xiao Xu-ceng met with the CCP's number 4 ranking official, Wang Hu-ning, last
week on a trip to Beijing.

According to local newspaper Liberty Times, Wang clearly stated that “the
foundation of any peace framework must be guided by China’s unification,”
leaving no room for ambiguity.

Zheng, on the other hand, has called the report "completely fabricated",
saying that there was no political aspect to the conversations that took
place in Beijing between leaders of the two parties.

She said the Xiao-Wang meeting has already exceeded earlier expectations,
stressing that both parties hope to expand goodwill and sincerity on the
existing foundation.

(AH)

In world news...

A Norwegian ambassador who recently served in Jordan has resigned as she
faces scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein.

Norway's Foreign Ministry says Mona Yuul (Juul) tendered her resignation on
Sunday evening, days after she was suspended as Norway’s ambassador to
Jordan.

That followed reports that Epstein left the children of Juul and her husband,
$10 million U.S. dollars in a will drawn up shortly before his death by
suicide in a New York prison in 2019.

Norway's foreign minister said Juul’s decision was “correct and necessary.”

The latest batch of Epstein files has cast an unflattering spotlight on
several prominent Norwegian figures, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

In Taiwan Talk this week...

Taipei Main Station is the city's biggest transit hub... but its also the
gathering place for the city's unhoused.

I-C-R-T's Tim Berge and Hope Ngo spoke to Luke Pigott of Salt Collectiv and
"Uncle Liang" of Homeless Taipei... to better understand the plight of the
city's rough sleepers.


You were listening to Uncle Liang of Homeless Taipei, and Luke Pigott of Salt
Collectiv.

You can catch this episode on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you
download your podcasts.

Doctors are warning travelers not to buy so-called “slimming injections”
overseas after social media posts showed people purchasing them in Japan.



A recent study analyzing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
Adverse-Event Reporting System found that reports linked to these weight-loss
drugs jumped eightfold in two years.

Doctors said The most common problems are caused by dosing mistakes,
including injecting the wrong amount, skipping doses, or changing the
schedule.



they said one major risk is that Taiwan and Japan use different injection-pen
designs, which can easily confuse users.

Other risks include self-increasing doses, missing injections that reduce
effectiveness, and improper storage, since the medication must be kept at
specific temperatures.



Doctors urge people to consult medical professionals and avoid buying or
using the injections on their own, saying improper use can lead to serious
complications.

(JL)

Controversy over a proposed incinerator project in Nantou's Mingjian Township
is continuing...

with local leaders calling on the Ministry of the Environment to intervene.

The ministry says, it will closely follow communications between the local
and county governments and isn't ruling out assisting in an environmental
impact assessment.

Mingjian Township Chief Chen Han Li (陳翰立) says, the waste management
question is not Mingjian's responsibility, but rather said the Ministry of
the Environment must do something about it.

Environment Minister Peng Qi Ming says that there is a need for an
incinerator in Nantou, and noted that Nantou has a higher-than-average level
of trash generation.

The issue has been a contentious one, with protesters and politicans
demonstrating their opposition to the incinerator project as far back as
September.

(AH)

Taipei prosecutors are seeking detention for the man suspected of lighting
fires in two MRT stations on Sunday.

The man, surnamed Zeng, was arrested just hours after the alleged crimes.

Officials say that he traveled up from Taichung yesterday morning before
heading to Da'an Forest Park station, setting a fire in the men's bathroom,
and getting a bus to Taipei Main Station.

They believe that Zeng then walked to the Taiwan Railways administrative
building to deliver four petition letters.

He then headed to Xi-men-ding to change clothes before taking the MRT to
Shan-dao Temple station, where he set another fire.

He was caught some 10 minutes later on the street.

Zeng said that he committed these acts due to frustration with his repeated
unanswered petitions regarding a rezoning project in Taichung.

He is being investigated on charges of endangering public safety and
threatening public security, a crime punishable by at least 5 years' prison
time.

(AH)

DPP primaries in Taipei for city councilor positions will take place next
month, with registration open now.

In the city's Beitou and Shilin districts, 5 DPP incumbent councilors
registered together, hoping to aid their party in bringing a DPP mayor to
power.

They emphasized their unity despite differences in factions.

The party will nominate 25 city councilors in the capital city, which is one
fewer than they nominated in 2022.

According to party regulations, incumbents must face primaries alongside
newcomers.

Registration for councilor positions in Taipei and the 5 other major
municipalities ends tomorrow.

If the party's negotiations fail to produce a consensus, primary polling will
be held next month into April.

(AH)

Members of the public can begin exchanging old banknotes for new ones today
ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Central Bank has designated 455 locations across eight financial
institutions to provide the service.

The exchange period will run for five business days, ending on February 13-th.

The bank says each person is limited to 100 new "100-NT bills" per visit,
while other denominations will be provided based on available stock.

The bank is also encouraging the public to consider "digital red envelopes"
or using clean, existing bills instead of new ones, as a way of supporting
"green finance".

(NS)

Now turning to international news...

The Poertuguese Center-left Socialist candidate has won the country's
election runoff today.

Antonio Jose Seguro had 66% of the vote compared to hard-right populist Andre
Ventura's 34%.

The vote served as a chance to test Ventura's personal style, as his party is
the second-largest in the Portuguese partliament.

It also represented a gauge of public interest in Europe's recent rightward
shift.

Seguro positioned himself as a moderate who will cooperate with the
center-right minority government.

In Portugal, the president is mostly a symbolic position, but they do have
the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is on a visit to Australia as he aims to
console local Jewish communities following an antisemitic attack.

Herzog laid a wreath and stones at the site of the attack in Sydney that
killed 15.

The Israeli president also met victims' families, and he's expected to visit
Melbourne and Canberra.

Meanwhile, local activists have planned protests against Herzog, with some
Jewish Australians saying Herzog is not welcome in their country.

The Jewish Council of Australia ran full page ads in local newspapers,
endorsed with the names of nearly 700 Jewish Australians that said Herzog
"does not speak for us."

They accuse the Israeli leader of inciting a genocide against Palestinians
and contributing to the illegal annexation of the West Bank.

And, in the capital city of Somalia, a bowling alley could mean a lot more
than meets the eye.

Economists say, the first such establishment in Mogadishu reflects a growing
middle class and demand from overseas Somalis who've returned home.

Mogadishu remains vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and security measures
remain part of daily life after 35 years of civil war and bombings.

But residents say, the ability to gather for recreation signals an important
shift...

providing a welcoming environment for a younger generation eager for safe
spaces to socialize.

Cafes in the city line newly reopened streets, and beaches draw evening
crowds as traffic congestion, once unimaginable, now clogs key intersections.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, he hopes that the executive and legislative
branches can engage in "communication" over the stalled central government
budget.

That's as media reports say that Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is set to
meet with President Lai Ching-te soon.

Asked about the special defense budget that is also stalled in the
legislature, Chiang said that he supported necessary arms purchases and added
that lawmakers must strictly examine such bills.

Separately, regarding a potential meeting between KMT and CCP leaders Cheng
Li-wun and Xi Jinping, Chiang said that cross-strait exchange must adhere to
the principles of equality, dignity, goodwill, and mutual benefit.

(AH)

Taiwan Railway is adding 29 extra train services to handle the expected
travel surge during the upcoming 2-2-8 Peace Memorial Day holiday.

The new services will run from February 26th to March 2nd, bringing the total
number of extra holiday trains to 113.

The expansion includes two Puyuma [普悠瑪] trains for the east coast and
thirteen Tze-Chiang [自強號] express services for the west coast, boosting
overall capacity by nearly six percent.

Tickets for these additional services go on sale at midnight on Wednesday.

Passengers can book seats via the Taiwan Railway app, official website,
convenience stores, or phone.

(IG)

Authorities will auction a collection of luxury supercars next month as part
of a major anti-fraud investigation into the Prince Group.

The Administrative Enforcement Agency says 33 vehicles will be sold on March
2-nd.

The collection includes four of the world’s most famous hypercars: a Bugatti
Chiron Sport, a Ferrari LaFerrari, a McLaren P1, and a Porsche 918 Spyder.

The vehicles were seized by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office during a
money laundering probe.

Prosecutors say the total value of assets seized in the case, including real
estate and luxury goods, exceeds $5 billion NT.

(NS)

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 621 points to
close the session at 32404.

The turnover was 630.8 billiion NT

Now turning to international news...

The pro-democracy Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20
years in prison.

His daughter says, if the sentence is carried out, Lai will "die a martyr
behind bars."

The Apple Daily founder faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and his
case has raised concerns about declining press freedom in Hong Kong.

His sentence is likely to heighten Beijing's diplomatic tensions with foreign
governments, especially as Lai holds British citizenship.

Aside from Lai, 6 former Apple Daily staffers and two activists received
sentences between 6 and 10 years behind bars under the Beijing-imposed
national security law.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says, a close ally has been
kidnapped hours after he was released from prison.

That's as the Venezuelan government released several prominent opposition
members from prison after lengthy detentions.

Machado said that Juan Pablo Guanipa was taken by heavily armed men in
Caracas just hours after his release.

She demanded the former governor's release.

The government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez has faced pressure to free
hundreds of people whose detentions are linked to their political activities.

Local organizations previously confirmed the release of at least 30 people.

Taiwan Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun reportedly told the United States that it
would be "impossible" to move 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor capacity to the
U.S..

Cheng made the comments during an interview with television channel CTS.

During the interview Cheng said international expansion, including increased
investment in the United States, is based on the premise that "we remain
firmly rooted in Taiwan and continue to expand investment at home."

She added that Taiwan's overall capacity would only continue to grow, and
that it was possible to "expand the island's semiconductor presence in the
United States."

Cheng said that there would be no relocation of Taiwan's science parks, but
Taiwan was willing to share its experience in building an industry cluster
and help the U.S. develop a similar environment.

She also said she was confident that Taiwan's semiconductor capacity would
far exceed its investment in the U.S. or any other country.

U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik has said that he had made the goal of
having 40% market share in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing based out
of the United States.

Issues with the Taipei MRT brown line continued this morning...

with officials saying that a train stopped in between stations this morning
due to an abnormality.

The train was heading to Nangang Exhibition Center Station from Nangang
Software Park Station just before 8:30 when it stopped on the tracks.

Authorities dispatched personnel to handle the situation and service resumed
11 minutes later.

They say that it appears that the incident was caused by a control line
malfunction.

Taipei MRT adds that it will continue to investigate the cause of the delay.

(AH)

In international news,

Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi (NAR gehs Moh
hah mah DEE) to over seven more years in prison.

Supporters say she began a hunger strike on February 2.

Her lawyer confirmed the sentence, which includes charges of "gathering and
collusion" and propaganda.

Mohammadi, 53, had been serving a prison sentence of 13 years and 9 months
since 2021 on charges of collusion and propaganda before she received a
furlough in December 2024 over medical concerns.

She had suffered multiple heart attacks while imprisoned before undergoing
emergency surgery in 2022.

With the latest sentence, her jail time sits at a combined 44 years maximum.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister emphasized the country's strength in
resisting pressure from great powers.

This comes after recent nuclear negotiations with the U.S. and nationwide
protests.

The U.S. has moved military assets to the Middle East to pressure Iran.

Talks between Iran and the U.S. are ongoing, with uncertain future rounds.

(KK)

Two U-S senators have urged Taiwan's political parties to end a legislative
stalemate and pass a 1.25 trillion N-T special defense budget.

Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen released a joint statement expressing
disappointment that the eight-year plan remains stalled in the Legislative
Yuan.

The senators cited China's large-scale military exercises in December, which
simulated a blockade of Taiwan, as a clear reminder of the need for urgent
funding.

The budget, proposed by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in November, is
intended to fund critical military reforms and strengthen ties with
Washington.

However, the opposition KMT and TPP have blocked the review, demanding the
President first brief lawmakers in person.

The TPP has since proposed an alternative bill that caps spending at 400
billion N-T and focuses on fewer weapons systems.

The KMT maintains it supports reasonable defense spending but accused the
government of misleading U-S lawmakers about the delay.

A Taiwanese national has been confirmed among the three dead in a car crash
in Los Angeles last week.

Taiwan's representative office in L-A also reported that three other injured
Taiwanese nationals are now in stable condition.

The incident occurred Thursday in the Westwood area near U-C-L-A, when a
92-year-old woman driving a sedan struck a cyclist before slamming into the
bakery section of 99 Ranch Market supermarket.

Three people died at the scene, and six others were injured, with two victims
remaining in critical condition.

Police believe the crash was an accident, likely caused by a sudden medical
issue that led the driver to lose control.

In international news,

Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison
...

... in one of Hong Kong's most prominent cases prosecuted under a
Beijing-imposed national security law.

The 78-year-old was convicted of foreign collusion and sedition for his role
in calling for international sanctions against Hong Kong and China.

While judges spared Lai the maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the
two-decade term means the outspoken critic of Beijing could likely spend the
rest of his life behind bars.

The sentence comes amid his deteriorating health and over five years already
spent in custody, mostly in solitary confinement.

Global leaders and human rights groups have condemned the trial as a "sham,"
warning it marks the final blow to press freedom in the territory.

Alongside Lai, eight co-defendants, including former Apple Daily executives,
also received prison terms ranging from six to ten years.

New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi says water service will be restored to around 10
thousand affected users in Xinzhuang District before noon today.

The disruption began Sunday when crews building a new pedestrian overpass on
New Taipei Boulevard accidentally struck a 500-millimeter water main.

The accident caused significant flooding on nearby roads and affected water
supply to households toward the New Taipei Industrial Park area.

Mayor Hou noted that while emergency repairs were carried out overnight,
water pressure adjustments were implemented to avoid a large-scale service
shutdown, and final system tests are currently underway.

(IG)

Over in Portugal...

Center-left Socialist candidate Antonio Jose Seguro has recorded a decisive
victory over hard-right populist Andre Ventura in the country's presidential
runoff election.

Exit polls indicate Seguro won around 70% of the votes, compared to
Ventura’s 30%.

The election tested support for Ventura’s populist style and his Chega
party, which has become the second-largest in Portugal’s parliament.

Seguro, a moderate, plans to cooperate with the center-right minority
government and counter Ventura’s anti-establishment rhetoric.

Portugal's president is a figurehead, but he has the power to veto
legislation and dissolve parliament.

India and the United States have released a framework for an interim trade
agreement to lower tariffs on Indian goods.

The joint statement follows US President Donald Trump's announcement last
week on reduced import tariffs for India.

This comes six months after Trump imposed tariffs to press New Delhi to cut
its reliance on Russian crude oil.

Under the deal, tariffs on Indian goods would drop to 18% from 25%.

India would also reduce tariffs on US goods.

The agreement aims to support resilient supply chains. However, Indian
opposition parties argue it favors the US and would hurt sensitive sectors
like agriculture.

AP_JvW

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for a
new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey.

The decision comes as construction was about to stop due to a funding freeze.

The Trump administration had halted $16 billion for the project, citing
concerns about unconstitutional spending.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas approved a temporary restraining order to
keep the funds flowing while the case plays out in court.

AP_JvW

Iran and the United States have held indirect talks in Oman.

The negotiations appeared to be a return to the starting point on discussions
over Tehran's nuclear program following multiple rounds last year before
Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the American military's Central
Command, was at yesterday's talks in Muscat -- serving as a reminder that the
aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other US warships have been deployed
off the coast of Iran in the Arabian Sea.

President Trump said the US had "very good" talks on Iran and said more were
planned for early next week.

AP_JvW

A partner company of Line TV, a video streaming platform with more than 6
million users, reported that some users' data were hacked in late January.

They said the incident did not affect Line or related services, which operate
on a separate server and information security system from Line TV.

Choco Media Entertainment Co., a service provider for Line TV, said yesterday
that it discovered that part of its user data had been accessed without
authorisation between January 24 and 26.

The leaked data include user IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, passwords,
birthdays, nicknames, and profile photos.

The company stressed that no financial information, such as bank account or
credit card details, was compromised.

Line TV will grant free access to users as compensation.

It said it had fixed the system vulnerability and strengthened data
protection.

The Taipei Blood Centre says there is an urgent shortage in blood stocks as
donor numbers drop with recent temperature swings.

It says Taipei has only about 4 days of blood supply left overall.

Type B is down to 4 days, and type O is at 3 days, near the critical line.

The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation says the national supply is about 5
days, with type O at 4 days.

Officials say more people are sick with colds, while hospitals are using more
blood, so reserves keep falling.

The centre says demand will not drop during the Lunar New Year holiday and
urges eligible people to donate before the break.

It also says the age range for donation expanded to between 16 to 70 since
July of last year, with extra rules for older donors.

(PB)

Yunlin prosecutors say task forces busted 2 etomidate "zombie vape cartridge"
packaging sites in Kaohsiung and Yunlin.

Prosecutors indicted 2 men for alleged drug offenses.

In a November raid, police say they seized heroin, methamphetamine with net
pure weight of up to 120 grams, and etomidate liquid, worth over $1 million
NT.

Prosecutors say one of the suspects used a rented home in Mailiao (麥寮) to
make and package drugs, including etomidate powder and finished cartridges.

They say officers also seized tools used for heating, mixing, and filling
cartridges, along with a press mold, grinder, bags, and electronic scales.

(PB)

Now in international news ...

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy former media tycoon Jimmy Lai will be sentenced
next Monday.

He was convicted in December under a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, could
face up to life in prison in a case that has stirred criticism from some
foreign governments.

Lai was an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party and was
arrested in 2020 under the national security law that Beijing deemed
necessary for the city’s stability following anti-government protests the
previous year.

His trial was widely seen as an indicator of the decline of press freedom in
the former British colony.

But the city’s government insists the case has nothing to do with media
freedom.

An unprecedented four-site, two-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony is
scheduled to officially start the Milan Cortina Games tonight.

The ceremony will feature Italian cultural icons, including operatic tenor
Andrea Bocelli and a reference to the late fashion designer Giorgio Armani.

American singer Mariah Carey will also perform.

This is the most spread-out Olympics in history, with competition venues
across an area a bit larger than half the size of Taiwan.

The main hub Friday is in Milan at San Siro soccer stadium.

Athletes will also march at three other sites in the Dolomite Mountains and
the Italian Alps.

Milan is home to the ice hockey, figure skating, and speed skating
competitions.

Skiers and ski jumpers, snowboarders, curlers, and bobsledders, lugers, and
skeleton riders will compete at the mountain venues.

Political parties in Thailand are gearing up for their final campaign rallies
ahead of a general election.

This is under a backdrop of slow economic growth, rising nationalism and
allegations of cybercrime and corruption.

It's expected to be a tight race amongst the three major parties with no
outright winner.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called the snap vote in December after
dissolving parliament to avoid a no-confidence motion.

Anutin seeks to return to power with his conservative Bhumjaithai Party
focusing on national security and economic stimulus.

The progressive People’s Party leads in polls but faces challenges in
forming a coalition.

A referendum on replacing the 2017 constitution will also be held.


There will be 400 lawmakers directly elected based on constituencies, while
100 others will be chosen from “party list” nominees, who gain seats
according to each party’s proportional share of the vote. Together they will
constitute the 500 members of the House of Representatives who select the
prime minister.

No single party is expected to win an outright majority, leaving the prime
minister to be determined through intense coalition bargaining, similar to
the result in 2023.

Analysts say the People’s Party may win the most seats but faces significant
hurdles in finding coalition partners due to its reform agenda, which
includes shaking up the powerful military.

A Bhumjaithai-led coalition is a more probable outcome because the party
would likely secure the backing of the conservative establishment that views
its platform as less disruptive to the political status quo.

Referendum could impact the constitution

A referendum also will be held asking voters whether Thailand should replace
its 2017 military-drafted constitution.

Rather than a specific draft, the vote will decide whether to authorize
Parliament to begin a formal drafting process. Pro-democracy groups view it
as a critical first step toward reducing the influence of unelected
institutions such as the military and judiciary. Conservatives oppose the
measure, saying the changes could remove essential safeguards for political
stability.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has confirmed that NVIDIA has completed pricing
negotiations to move into the Beitou–Shilin Technology Park, clearing the
way for final procedures.

Deputy Mayor Lee Szu-chuan says the agreed rights fee totals 12.2 billion NT.

Lee says negotiations with NVIDIA concluded smoothly, and the contract could
be signed as early as February 11th, or no later than February 13th, ahead of
the Lunar New Year holiday.

City officials say NVIDIA will now complete its internal contract review,
with further details to be released later.

Once the deal is signed, the project can move into permit applications, with
city officials hoping construction can begin before June.

The project would see NVIDIA establish its Taiwan headquarters at the
technology park, marking a major boost for Taipei's technology and innovation
hub.

(IG)

TSMC plans to hold a board meeting in Kumamoto on Monday, its first board
meeting in Japan.

A source says National Development Council head Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯), a
government representative on TSMC's board, will travel there to attend.

The plan follows yesterday's meeting between TSMC chairman C.C. Wei and
Japan's Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi.

The source said Wei told Takaichi that TSMC aims to make advanced 3-nanometer
chips at its second Kumamoto fab to meet AI demand.

TSMC began mass production at its first Kumamoto plant in late 2024, with
support from partners including Sony and Toyota.

The second fab, now under construction, had been set to make 6- to
12-nanometer chips and is scheduled to start production in late 2027.

Economy minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said overseas expansion is unlikely
to reduce TSMC investment at home.

(CNA-PB)

The U.S. military says Washington and Moscow agreed on Thursday to
reestablish high-level military-to-military talks.

The agreement followed meetings in Abu Dhabi involving General Alexus
Grynkewich, the head of U.S. European Command.

The United States cut most military communication with Russia just before
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The U.S. military says the renewed dialogue aims to reduce risks of
miscalculation and escalation.

U.S. and Russian forces have still kept an emergency deconfliction line in
place.

The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President
Vladimir Putin have spoken directly several times.

Team Taiwan has announced its 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball
Classic.

The squad has 16 pitchers, 3 catchers, and 11 position players, and captain
Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲).

Two Taiwanese Americans, outfielder Stuart Fairchild and infielder Jonathon
Long, will make their Taiwan debuts.

Both were born to Taiwanese mothers and now play in Triple-A systems for the
Guardians and the Cubs.

Pitchers to watch include Lin Yu-min (林昱民) of the Diamondbacks and Lin
Wei-en (林維恩) of the Athletics, both invited to MLB spring training.

The World Baseball Classic runs from March 5th to March 17th, and Taiwan will
compete in Pool C of the games agaisnt Australia, Japan, the Czech Republic,
and South Korea at Tokyo Dome.

(CNA-PB)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attacked former ambassador Peter
Mandelson on Thursday and said he was sorry for believing his "lies."

Starmer faces pressure over appointing Mandelson as ambassador to Washington
in December 2024, despite known ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

New U.S. Justice Department files highlighted the closeness of that
relationship and suggested Mandelson leaked government documents to Epstein.

Mandelson quit the House of Lords on Tuesday amid the uproar and is now under
police investigation for alleged misconduct in office.

Starmer said people knew Mandelson knew Epstein, but not "the depth and the
darkness" of the relationship.

Starmer apologized to Epstein's victims and said he shared lawmakers' anger
about the appointment.

He said he wants to publish the security vetting advice, but will not act in
ways police say could harm the investigation.

Tainan's Health Bureau says the city has confirmed its first imported dengue
case of the year.

Officials say the patient is a Vietnamese woman in her 40s who lives in
Guanmiao District (關廟區).

They say she entered Taiwan on Jan. 31st through Kaohsiung Xiaogang Airport
(高雄小港機場).

The bureau says she developed fever, muscle pain, cough, and a runny nose on
Feb. 2nd.

Officials say she sought medical care two days after showing symptoms and was
reported after a rapid test.

The case was lab-confirmed yesterday as dengue virus serotype 2.

Tainan's dengue control center says teams were sent to remove mosquito
breeding sites near her home and plan chemical control work.

(PB)

An orange low temperature warning is now in place for greater Taipei,
Taoyuan, Xinzhu, Yilan and outlying Kinmen, as the mercury can drop to 10
degrees Celsius or lower for long periods of time on Sunday and Monday
morning.

The Central Weather Administration says with the arrival of a cold surge
tomorrow, there'll be a noticeable drop in temperatures and rain across
central and northern Taiwan.

Temperatures should range between 9 and 12 in the north, and between 10 and
14 in the center.

Other areas will also experience cold mornings and evenings from early
morning on the 8th to the 9th.

In Kaohsiung, low temp can plunge to 13 degrees.

Forecasters are calling on everyone to stay warm and be careful when using
gas water heaters.

(JL)

Taiwan shares edged lower along with most Asian markets after Wall Street
extended losses driven by technology stocks.

The TaiEx lost 18 points to close the session at 31-thousand-782.

The turnover reached 676 billion NT.

The White House says diplomacy is U.S. President Donald Trump's first choice
in dealing with Iran, ahead of talks in Oman on Friday.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wants "zero nuclear capability"
from Iran, but also has military options.

Final preparations were under way as the United States builds up forces in
the Middle East, which Trump has called a massive "armada."

The talks are set to proceed despite differences over the agenda, with
Washington seeking wider issues and Tehran saying the focus must be the
nuclear program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi left for Oman on Thursday, as Tehran
said it seeks a fair and dignified understanding on the nuclear issue.

Araqchi is expected to meet in Muscat with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and
the president's adviser Jared Kushner.

Trump has warned of strikes if no deal is reached, while regional governments
are urging calm to avoid wider conflict.

Norway's economic crime police, Oekokrim, says it has opened an investigation
into former prime minister Thorbjoern /THOR-byorn/ Jagland.

Oekokrim says the case involves suspicion of aggravated corruption, linked to
newly released files tied to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jagland, who chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee and later led the Council
of Europe, has not been charged.

Police say they will examine whether gifts, travel, or loans were received in
connection with his positions.

Norway's Foreign Ministry agreed to seek the lifting of Jagland's immunity as
a former head of an international organization.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide /IDE/ said it is important to bring the
facts to light and Norway will propose revoking the immunity.

Jagland's lawyer said he welcomes the investigation and expects a favorable
outcome, while the Nobel Committee declined to comment.

Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla say they will try again this year to
bring aid to Gaza by sea.

They say they hope to send about 100 boats, with up to 1,000 medics, more
than twice last year's effort.

Israel's military stopped about 40 boats last October as they tried to reach
blockaded Gaza.

Organisers say more than 450 people were detained, including Swedish activist
Greta Thunberg.

Israel has called such missions publicity stunts and says it is not
withholding supplies for Gaza's 2 million residents.

Aid groups and Palestinians say supplies are still not enough, even after an
October ceasefire that promised more aid.

The activists say even if Israel blocks the flotilla again, the mission will
still spotlight Gaza's situation.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is raising concerns over an increase in PLA
harassment in 2025.

Koo says, PLA planes and drones made over 3700 intrusions into Taiwan's
airspace last year...

marking a 23% increase from in 2024.

The defense minister adds that he blieves the CCP is intending to slowly
incorporate Taiwan into China by exerting pressure through gray zone warfare.

Koo added that statistics show that Chinese planes and drones frequently
crossed into Taiwan's Air Defense Identificaiton Zone last year to enter the
southwest and eastern airspace.

Additionally, PLA warships entered Taiwan's response zone over 2500 times
last year, representing an increase of about 7% to the previous year.

Koo says, the multilayered repression raises fears of the Taiwanese public
being lulled into a false sense of security.

Authorities in Taipei have arrested 6 people after a woman was robbed of over
7 million NT.

The woman, surnamed Hsu, fell victim to an online romance and fake
crytocurrency scam.

Police say that officers arrested the suspects in New Taipei and recovered
most of the stolen money.

Officials say, they received reports that cash linked to a fraud case had
been snatched in Datong district.

Hsu had met a man online months earlier and was drawn into a romance scam
before being persuaded to invest in a fake crytocurrency scheme.

Last month, Hsu handed over 1 million NT as an initial inevstment, after
which the scammers encouraged her to invest more.

She then arranged to meet a man surnamed Hsieh who posed as a broker, to
deliver over 7 million NT.

But during the handover, another man grabbed the cash and fled in a nearby
getaway car.

The Taichung City government has moved to close a Japanese restaurant after
several people developed symptoms of food poisoning.

Officials say, just under half of those that dined at the West District
establishment reported discomfort.

Inspectors visited the site earlier this week to collect samples.

Results are expected in about 2 weeks.

The case came to light after one diner posted online about seeking medical
treatment after eating at a sukiyaki restaurant.

The Mexican state of Jalisco has issued a health alert and mandated face
masks in schools due to a measles outbreak in the state capital.

This comes after the Pan American Health Organization issued an
epidemiological alert over the disease's spread in the Americas, with Mexico
leading in confirmed cases.

Jalisco is the epicenter, with over 1,100 confirmed cases this year.

The outbreak began last year in Chihuahua and has spread across Mexico.

This outbreak coincides with preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Authorities in Canada have arrested 7 police officers over suspected ties to
organized crime.

Officials say, the officers unlawfully collected and distributed personal
information to organized crime figures, in some cases for bribes.

Mobsters then used this information for shootings and other violent crimes.

The investigation began in June when police uncovered a murder plot targeting
a corrections manegement employee.

The officers under investigation have now been suspended.

The Tourism Administration joined airlines and travel firms at a major travel
fair in Mumbai, India.

Officials promoted a new marketing theme, "Taiwan never sleeps," aimed at
high-end and incentive travel.

The Taiwan pavilion used the brand "Taiwan - Waves of Wonder" and hosted
business matching and public activities.

Opening-day events included a performance by Lei Sheng Art Group
(雷昇傳藝劇團) and a "Sword Lion" painting workshop from Lukang (鹿港).

Taiwan highlighted daytime scenery and late-night city life, along with
nightlife options and 24-hour services.

Office head Shih Chih-chung (施志忠) said safety and convenience are key
selling points for Indian travelers.

He said 24-hour convenience stores help visitors, especially women, feel
secure even late at night.

Organizers say the Outbound Travel Mart runs until tomorrow in Mumbai, with
over 60 countries and more than 2-thousand-200 exhibitors.

(PB)

Weather expert Wu Derong (吳德榮) says Taiwan is forecast to be mostly cloudy
to sunny today, but northern areas will cool after dark.

He says a front moves in tonight, bringing local rain to northern Taiwan and
falling temperatures.

Wu says temperatures drop sharply tomorrow, with rain in the north and the
east, and more clouds in central Taiwan.

He says Sunday and Monday turn drier but stay cold, with the east seeing
occasional brief showers.

He says European and U.S. model runs show Taipei could touch 10 degrees early
Sunday to Monday, the second cold wave this winter.

Wu says some lowland areas could fall below 6 degrees, and high mountains may
see snow as the snow line drops to about 1-thousand-200 meters.

He says it stays very cold early next Tuesday, then warms in the day, before
a smaller cold push arrives on Wednesday.

(PB)

British defence minister John Healey says NATO defence ministers are likely
to discuss Greenland security at a meeting in Brussels next week.

The talks follow comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he
wants Greenland and claims allies have not secured it well.

Trump's remarks sparked a dispute with NATO member Denmark, which controls
Greenland as an overseas territory.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says he discussed Arctic security with
Trump, but few details have been released.

Healey pointed to a proposed NATO "Arctic Sentry" mission as a way to boost
vigilance around Greenland.

He says the mission would show NATO is already acting and could step up
further.

Healey also said Britain wants more private investment to match rising public
defence spending.

New Zealand marks Waitangi Day today, the anniversary of the 1840 Treaty of
Waitangi.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the country must keep evolving to
empower Maori while preserving national unity.

Hundreds gathered at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands for a
dawn service.

Paddlers from different tribes arrived by waka, the traditional Maori canoe,
and were expected to perform the haka.

The treaty, signed by the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs, still
guides laws and policy.

The day has added political weight ahead of a national election last
November, after the government rolled back some Indigenous policies.

A bill last year to reinterpret the treaty's principles sparked protests and
later failed, and Luxon called for peaceful debate.

About 35 of 85 countries at a military AI summit in A Coruna, Spain, agreed
to a declaration on governing AI in warfare.

According to attendees, China and the United States did not join the pledge.

Supporters say fast AI advances could outpace rules, raising risks of
accidents, miscalculation, or unintended escalation.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said governments face a "prisoner's
dilemma" between limits and competition.

The declaration lists 20 principles, including human responsibility for
AI-powered weapons and clear command and control.

It also calls for risk assessments, robust testing, and training for
personnel using military AI.

Major signers included Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands,
South Korea and Ukraine.