Taiwan makes US$3m donation to Caribbean allyStaff writer, with CNAThe government on Tuesday donated US$3 million to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to support its social relief programs, Taiwan’s embassy to the Caribbean ally said yesterday. The donation was made by Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fiona Fan (范惠君) to SVG Prime Minister Godwin Friday during a ceremony, the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in SVG said in a social media post. Friday expressed his gratitude on behalf of his government and people for Taiwan’s support, saying that the grant represents a vital “investment in people” of the Caribbean nation. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Prime Minister Godwin Friday, left, and Ambassador to SVG Fiona Fan shake hands at a ceremony in SVG on Tuesday. Since taking office, Friday has said that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which were established in 1981.

Final batch of M1A2T tanks to be delivered soon, source saysThe manufacture of the remaining 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taiwan purchased from the US has recently been completed, and they are expected to be delivered within the next one to two months, a source said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense is arranging cargo ships to transport the tanks to Taiwan as soon as possible, said the source, who is familiar with the matter. The estimated arrival time ranges from late this month to early next month, the source said. The 28 Abrams tanks make up the third and final batch of a total of 108 tanks, valued at about NT$40.5 billion

Tigerair Taiwan signs deal to buy four A321neosStaff Writer, with CNATigerair Taiwan, the only Taiwanese low-cost carrier, has signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase four A321neos, the European plane maker said Wednesday. In a statement, Airbus said the purchase agreement marked the first time the Taiwanese carrier has ordered A321neo aircraft to expand its fleet. Tigerair Taiwan currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 17 aircraft, comprising nine A320ceos and eight A320neos. Tigerair Taiwan Chairwoman Huang Shih-hui, front left, shakes hands with Airbus Senior Vice President of Sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery to ink a deal to purchase more A321neos. Tigerair Taiwan on Wednesday also announced it will launch a new Taichung-Okinawa route on March 30, with two flights per week in the initial phase.

Strike hits New Zealand-bound holiday travelersBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterTravel agencies in Taiwan are working to secure alternative flights for travelers bound for New Zealand for the Lunar New Year holiday, as Air New Zealand workers are set to strike next week. Travelers wait for boarding at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Dec. 1 last year. Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei TimesThe announcement came as people are about to celebrate the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Saturday next week. Passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the strike could rebook alternative flights within seven days before or after their original departure dates without paying processing fees or fare differences, the airline said. Whether the strike would cause further disruptions to air travel to New Zealand remains to be seen, he said.

Ministry gives advice on K-pop-crazed teenagersBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAWith young people investing lots of time and money on K-pop merchandise, the Ministry of Education yesterday released an article on the psychology behind the culture craze with advice to parents on how to handle it. Among the Web site’s many resources is an article on K-pop by Shu-Te University Graduate School of Human Sexuality assistant professor Kuo Hung Kuo-hsiung (郭洪國雄). Young people devote lots of time and resources to K-pop fandoms, “exceeding what parents imagine,” the article said. Social media networks can create the expectation that viewers must like certain idols to fit in, the article said. For children, K-pop is not just entertainment, but a type of emotional support and source of social connection, the ministry’s media resource network said.

The amendment stipulates that such vehicles would be called cabin motorcycles, which refer to three-wheeled motorcycles equipped with an enclosed passenger compartment and a steering wheel, and would be granted license plates designated for motorcycles. Meanwhile, the amendment would ban cabin motorcycle riders from driving on freeways and expressways, and riders and passengers must have their seatbelts fastened, but do not need to wear helmets. To ensure that the steering wheel, windows, seatbelts and windshield wipers function normally, cabin motorcycle riders are required to have their vehicles inspected. Cabin motorcycle riders would face a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$12,000 if they have only a motorcycle license, as per the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). Driving a cabin motorcycle without a license would incur a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$36,000.

Taipei to sign Nvidia HQ contract soonWRAPPING UP: The Taipei City Government is to review the land rights and royalties in the contract today, with the aim of signing the contract before the Lunar New YearStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei City Government and Nvidia Corp are to sign a contract before the Lunar New Year allowing the artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer to build its Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou Shilin Technology Park, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said yesterday. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, center, speaks to reporters at a Taipei MRT groundbreaking ceremony yesterday. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei TimesThe Taipei City Government is scheduled to review the land rights plan and royalties for the contract with Nvidia today. Once the review is complete, there would also be a subsequent valuation review, negotiations and contract signing procedures, with the final signing to take place before the Lunar New Year, Chiang said. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) wrapped up a four-day visit to Taiwan earlier this week, during which he attended a year-end party for Nvidia Taiwan staff and met with major suppliers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Ukrainian sumo star trains for Japan’s top prizeReuters, TOKYOThe Ukraine-born grappler who has taken the sumo world by storm is in deep training for a historic run at the highest prize in Japan’s national sport. Aonishiki, whose sumo name means “blue brocade” in honor of the Ukrainian flag, has rocketed through sumo’s ranks at record speed. Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata, the ring name of Danylo Yavhusishyn, drinks water at a training session at his Ajigawa stable in Tokyo yesterday. A friend from his sumo circle took him into his home in Kobe in western Japan and the young Ukrainian began training in earnest in the sport. Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata, the ring name of Danylo Yavhusishyn, left, watches other wrestlers practice during a training session at his Ajigawa stable in Tokyo yesterday.

Trump’s fragile unreliability has killed the US’ deterrenceBy Stephen HolmesUS President Donald Trump’s administration’s new National Defense Strategy (NDS) places “deterrence” at the center of the US’ grand strategy: Deter China from dominating the Indo-Pacific region, deter threats to US access to Asian markets. However, the independence of such institutions is precisely what makes long-term commitments credible to foreign observers. Deterrence fails not only when threats lack credibility, but when the absence of credibility tempts adversaries into recklessness. Trump’s NDS speaks the language of deterrence fluently, but strategy documents do not deter. Credible commitments, sustained over time, do.

Australia’s Pacific mobility scheme is in its interests, if it can workThe PALM scheme boosts incomes for Pacific nations, fills Australia’s work needs, fosters cultural exchange and improves diplomatic linksThe PALM scheme boosts incomes for Pacific nations, fills Austra / The GuardianThe Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) is a crucial source of workers across regional Australia. PALM workers make a significant contribution to regional businesses that struggle to attract local workers, from farms to abattoirs. The third win is that PALM advances Australia’s strategic interests, not least by providing a counter to China’s wooing of Pacific nations. Yet the wins of the PALM scheme have countervailing costs in the pain of separated families, loneliness and broken marriages. Australia’s interest in fostering Pacific development and rivalry with China are added reasons to limiting working holidays and expanding the PALM scheme instead.

Pingtung’s long wait for HSRBy Yeh Yu-chin 葉宇晉For decades, Pingtung County (屏東縣) in southern Taiwan has been conspicuously left behind in the development of high-speed rail (HSR). While other regions already enjoy fast and reliable long-distance transport, Pingtung is still being asked whether it “really needs” HSR. Yet these arguments miss the reality of local transportation needs. A major infrastructure project with profound implications for southern development is thus being judged almost entirely through non-local lenses. Pingtung County Commissioner Chou Chun-mi (周春米) has continued pressing the central government for the southern HSR extension, completing urban planning work and advancing complementary development around the proposed station.

Ministry advises parents on teen K-pop obsessionBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAWith young people investing lots of time and money on K-pop fandom, the Ministry of Education today released an article on the psychology behind the culture craze with advice to parents on how to handle it. In a news release, the ministry advised parents to spend time over winter vacation using its Media Literacy Education Resources Network to help children understand how media operates and protect themselves. Young people devote lots of time and resources to K-pop fandom, “exceeding what parents imagine,” the article said. The third layer lies in social media, which repeatedly expose children to related content such as friends buying concert tickets or unboxing K-pop merchandise. These social media networks can create the expectation that viewers must like certain idols to fit in, the article said.

Taiwan donates US$3m to aid St Vincent social relief programsStaff writer, with CNAThe government yesterday donated US$3 million to the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to support its social relief programs, Taiwan's embassy to the Caribbean ally said today. The donation was made by Ambassador Fiona Fan (范惠君) to SVG Prime Minister Godwin Friday during a ceremony, the embassy said in a social media post. Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fiona Fan, front row, second left, sits with Cabinet members of the Caribbean nation in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of Taiwan's embassy in Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesFriday expressed his gratitude on behalf of his government and people for Taiwan's support, adding that the grant represents a vital "investment in people" of the Caribbean nation. The funds would address community needs and help strengthen social institutions across the country, he was quoted as saying.

Man shot dead by police after stabbing incident in MiaoliBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAA man with a prior criminal record this morning stabbed a police officer twice in the head before being shot by another officer at a market in Miaoli, the Miaoli County Police Department said. The 40-year-old man, surnamed Chung (鍾), succumbed to his injuries earlier today, while the officer remains in intensive care, it said. Police investigate the scene of a stabbing incident today at Nan Miao Market in Miaoli City. Chung, the civilian and the stabbed officer were transferred to Miaoli General Hospital and Da Chien General Hospital for treatment, it said. Chung was later pronounced dead after emergency surgery to treat injuries to his upper left arm, left chest and left abdomen, Miaoli District Prosecutors’ Office said.

Taiwanese online drug trafficker sentenced to 30 years in USBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAA New York court yesterday sentenced a Taiwanese man to 30 years in prison for conspiring to distribute narcotics, money laundering and conspiring to sell adulterated and misbranded medication. Taiwanese national Lin Rui-siang (林睿庠) was arrested in May 2024 for operating an online narcotics marketplace, called “Incognito Market,” the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a news release yesterday. A screen grab shows products on the Incognito Market online platform. While Lin was in the US, he sold US$105 million worth of drugs to online customers, making him “one of the world’s most prolific drug traffickers,” Clayton said. Lin operated the Incognito Market under the online pseudonym “Pharaoh,” supervised its operations and “had ultimate decision-making authority over every aspect of the multimillion-dollar operation,” the court said in its statement.