Venezuela amnesty bill could lead to mass releaseVAGUE: The criteria of the amnesty remain unclear, but it would cover political violence from 1999 to today, and those convicted of murder or drug trafficking would not qualify Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Friday announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons. The measure had long been sought by the US-backed opposition. It is the latest concession Rodriguez has made since taking the reins of the country on Jan. 3 after the brazen seizure of then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez told a gathering of justices, magistrates, ministers, military brass and other government leaders that the ruling party-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly would take up the bill with urgency. Rodriguez also announced the shutdown

Japan PM Takaichi poised for landslide election win: pollReuters, TOKYOJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party is likely to score a landslide victory in next week’s lower house election, a survey by the Asahi newspaper showed, heightening the chance that the country would continue to pursue big spending and tax cuts. Photo: Reuters“The Bank of Japan may be forced to accelerate the pace of interest rate hikes to combat the weak yen and inflationary pressures from expansionary fiscal policy,” he said. Together with the LDP’s coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, the ruling alliance would likely reach 300 seats, the poll showed. A weak yen has been a source of headache for Japanese policymakers as it pushes up import costs and broader inflation. “Our view that excessive concern over Japan’s fiscal position is unnecessary remains unchanged,” he said.

It is a David versus Goliath fight, with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spending millions on surveillance technology, while activists and businesses scramble to build tools to protect migrants and others who might encounter federal officers. One migrant safety tool that has surged in popularity since the flood of immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota is TurnSignl. People gather for a candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday. Photo: AFPIt allows users to connect almost instantly to an immigration lawyer when confronted by ICE, as well as to automatically record and upload the encounter to cloud storage. Loosely organized groups of anti-ICE activists have been using encrypted messaging app Signal to flag immigration sweeps and organize spontaneous demonstrations against them.

Navy to build submarine rescue vesselWANTED LIST: The navy is also planning to build a second Panshih-class fast combat support ship and another Yushan-class amphibious landing platform dockStaff writer, with CNAThe military is planning to build a submarine rescue vessel after the completion of its first domestic submarine prototype, according to a defense ministry report released last week. The funds would be allocated by the navy to build a vessel that would enhance its submerged rescue capability, the report said. Between 2028 and 2034, the navy is planning to build another Yushan-class amphibious landing platform dock at an estimated cost of NT$13.4 billion, it said. The report was released one day after Taiwan’s indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or Narwhal, began its long-awaited submerged tests. When the Hai Kun is completed, a second submarine is scheduled to be built under the project, the ministry said.

Taiwan’s economy in booming mode for first time in a yearIn the wake of strong global demand for AI applications, Taiwan’s export-oriented economy accelerated with the composite index of economic indicators flashing the first “red” light in December for one year, indicating the economy is in booming mode, the National Development Council (NDC) said yesterday. Moreover, the index of leading indicators, which gauges the potential state of the economy over the next six months, also moved higher in December amid growing optimism over the outlook, the NDC said. In December, the index of economic indicators rose one point from a month earlier to 38, at the lower end of the “red” light.

January car sales come in below predicted amountStaff writer, with CNACar sales in Taiwan fell about 26 percent last month from the month before to about 35,000 units, missing market expectations as analysts cited caution amid uncertainty over tariff policy on US auto imports. Photo: CNAData compiled by the auto industry showed car sales last month stood at 35,073 units, down 25.9 percent from a month earlier, but up very slightly from 35,064 units for the same period last year. Hotai Motor said sales of Toyota and Lexus vehicles this month are forecast to hit 8,000 units, or about a 30.8 percent share of the local auto market. The data showed sales of imported cars in Taiwan plunged 41.3 percent last month from a month earlier to 14,561 units, and the January figure was 12.2 percent lower than a year earlier. Sales of luxury cars last month dipped 44.7 percent from a month earlier and dropped 26.1 percent from a year earlier to 7,234 units, the data indicated.

The announcement coincides with persistent fears about whether massive AI-linked investments by tech companies such as Oracle can pay off. A succesful raise could help Oracle begin to dig itself out of its pit, said Gil Luria, an analyst at DA Davidson & Co. The company borrowed US$18 billion in last year in what was one of the year’s largest corporate bond offerings. As Oracle debt swelled and Wall Street raised concerns of an AI bubble, investors rushed to buy credit default swaps tied to Oracle, which by December pushed the prices on some of the derivatives to the highest since the 2008 financial crisis. Making this significant of an announcement on a Sunday afternoon is unusual for a mature company such as Oracle.

Foreign affairs minister urges Lunar New Year travelers to take precautionsBy Huang Ching-hsuan, Chen Yu-fu and Esme Yeh / Staff reporters, with staff writerPeople planning to travel abroad during the Lunar New Year holiday should make sure they have a valid passport, and meet visa and entry requirements, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. In a video posted on Facebook, Lin urged people to check five items before leaving for the holiday. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei TimesThird, ensure they meet the travel destination’s visa and entry requirements, and fourth, get fully insured for overseas travel, he said. Set up at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the center is open 24/7 throughout the year to help overseas travelers’ in emergencies, the ministry said. Separately, the Mainland Affairs Council yesterday warned against unnecessary travel to Macau or Hong Kong amid an “orange” level travel alert for the regions, due to local law enforcement and unstable situations.

Prosecutors seek heavy sentence for teacher accused of sexual harassmentBy Wang Chieh and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerProsecutors in Tainan are seeking a heavy sentence for a teacher in Tainan who allegedly sexually harassed more than 25 girls and took photographs of them using a hidden camera in a bathroom. The Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office and police detained the suspect, surnamed Chang (張), and seized his mobile phone and camera. The Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office is pictured in an undated photograph. The Tainan District Court ordered his detention in October on suspicion of contravening the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例), and extended the detention on Tuesday. Chang allegedly took advantage of his teaching position to inappropriately touch and photograph multiple children, violating professional ethics, prosecutors said.

Groups urge government to enhance sex educationBROADER VIEW: Sex education should not be reduced to biology and contraception, but should also address consent, self-worth and responsibility, the groups saidStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese civil society groups yesterday called on the government to enhance sex education, citing rising incidents of online exploitation and abuse of minors. Representatives from education advocacy groups pose with placards at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The 10 stories underscore that sex and emotional education is not limited to teaching biology, but also involves concepts such as dignity, consent, power, responsibility and values, the groups said. Traditional sex education overly focuses on physiology, while neglecting emotional and relationship factors, he added. If sex education focuses only on contraception without addressing self-worth, consent and responsibility, young people would continue to face risks associated with sexual encounters, Feng said.

KMT will act as Taiwan industry advocate, peacemaker on Beijing trip: HsiaoStaff writer, with CNAA Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) delegation traveling to Beijing for a think tank exchange with the Chinese Communist Party will focus on advocating for Taiwanese companies and advancing peace, KMT Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) said yesterday. “The KMT wants to be a voice for Taiwan’s industry, a protector of everyday people, and a maker of cross-strait peace,” Hsiao told reporters before his departure from Taoyuan Airport. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen, center, speaks to reporters at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesThe delegation was slated to attend a dinner hosted by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday evening, and visit Tsinghua University tomorrow (Wed) before returning to Taiwan, Hsiao said. The KMT delegation’s current visit to China, however, will not be focused on political issues, Hsiao said.

Doctor warns of winter sleep apnea risksBy William Hetherington / Staff writer, with CNAMore than half of people with hypertension also have sleep apnea, leading to nighttime oxygen deprivation that can place undue stress on the heart, especially in the winter, a doctor said. “The most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is loud snoring. When combined with nighttime hypoxia from sleep apnea, the heart’s workload can reach its limit,” he said, adding that more than 50 percent of people with hypertension he treats also have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea also hampers weight loss, as breathing interruptions prevent deep sleep, reducing leptin secretion and making the brain less responsive to satiety signals, he said. “Home sleep testing allows professional evaluation of sleep apnea to be conducted in a familiar environment.”

Lai to brief press on Taiwan-US affairsBy Chen Yun / Staff reporterPresident William Lai (賴清德) is to hold a press conference today alongside senior officials in charge of national security, economic and foreign affairs to outline the next steps in advancing Taiwan-US cooperation, the Presidential Office announced yesterday. It comes on the heels of the conclusion of the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue in Washington on Tuesday last week. US Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jacob Helberg, left, Representative to the US Alexander Yui, second right, and Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin, right, pose for a photograph after signing statements on the Pax Silica Declaration in Washington on Tuesday last week. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis year’s dialogue was led by US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg on the US side, while Taiwan was represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫). The government will continue to prioritize national interests, broaden its network of international economic and trade partners, and enhance Taiwan’s resilience and strategic importance within global supply chains, it added.

Man faces potential lawsuit after botched iguana hunt sparks power outageBy Hung Ting-hung / Staff reporterTaipower Co said it might seek financial compensation from a Kaohsiung man whose botched attempt to capture an iguana sparked a power outage and left the lizard bounty hunter covered in second-degree burns. The 22-year-old man, surnamed Chou (周), and another person were filmed attempting to capture an iguana near Kaohsiung’s Linyuan Industrial Park (林園工業區) on Saturday. The site where a man was electrocuted in Kaohsiung on Saturday attempting to catch an iguana is pictured. “These are large petrochemical plants at the industrial park, which have high power demands, requiring high-voltage electricity wires. The Kaohsiung Agriculture Bureau said that local governments have offered NT$250 to NT$300 per iguana captured to control the reptiles’ population.

Barbie Hsu statue unveiled at her resting placeStaff writer, with CNAA statue of late Taiwanese singer and actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) was unveiled by her mother, nicknamed “S Mom,” and Hsu’s South Korean husband Koo Jun-yup yesterday in her resting place in New Taipei City, one year after her death. Designed by Koo, the statue is surrounded by nine cubes that he described as representing nine planets. Family members and friends of late singer and actress Barbie Hsu gather at the unveiling of her statue at Chin Pao San cemetery in New Taipei City yesterday. Barbie Hsu died of pneumonia at the age of 48 on Feb. 2 last year while on a trip to Japan, where she contracted influenza during the Lunar New Year holiday. Off-screen, Barbie Hsu was a well-known celebrity across Asia.