Ten AI projects to create NT$15tn in value: LaiSMART NATION: Launched last year with a projected investment of NT$1.5 trillion, the projects aim to support 500,000 people to maintain Taiwan’s competitivenessBy Chen Yun and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan aims to create NT$15 trillion (US$474.8 billion) in production value by 2040 through the 10 major artificial intelligence (AI) projects launched last year, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday at a meeting with the winners of the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards. The government launched the 10 major AI projects last year with a projected investment of NT$1.5 trillion, the president said. The investment is expected to support 500,000 people specializing in AI applications and create NT$15 trillion in output by 2040, he added. The real value of technology lies in solving problems and improving people’s lives, Lai said. That would create a better, smarter and more inclusive digital future not only for Taiwan, but also for the Indo-Pacific region as well, he added.

Man indicted for illegally importing bird flu vaccines from ChinaStaff Writer, with CNAA duck farmer in Yunlin County surnamed Liu (劉) was indicted Monday for illegally importing bird flu vaccines from China, in a case that authorities said underscores Taiwan’s blanket ban on such products. Taiwan has not approved any bird flu vaccines, and the manufacture, importation, sale or use of such products is illegal under the Veterinary Drugs Control Act, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said the same day. Prosecutors and staff from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine count illegally imported avian influenza vaccines at an unidentified location on Jan. 23, 2024. Liu was released on bail of NT$50,000 before prosecutors concluded their investigation and formally indicted him, they said. Although Liu claimed the vaccines were for personal use and not sold to others, prosecutors said the quantity imported far exceeded his farming needs.

TPP legislator’s nationality still in questionBy Chen Yu-fu and Jason Pan / Staff reportersThe controversy over the nationality of Chinese spouse Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀), who is slated to be sworn in as Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator-at-large today, continues amid demands that she provide proof that she has renounced her Chinese citizenship. Prior to taking office, legislators-elect must comply with Article 20 of the Nationality Act (國籍法), which prohibits people holding dual nationality from serving in public office, the Ministry of the Interior said. The Legislative Yuan should re-examine regulations related to national security and measures to enhance the protection of state secrets, Wu added. TPP caucus director Vicky Chen (陳智菡) yesterday said that Li, in line with Taiwan’s regulations, has applied in China to renounce her nationality. Li would explain the process of her renouncing her Chinese nationality when she takes the oath today, Chen added.

hold a majority in the legislature, yet they neither reviewed the general budget plan nor the special defense budget plan this past legislative session. “People can judge if this is reasonable.”The Legislative Yuan in Taipei is pictured on Friday. “As president, I have no criticisms against Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜). I am only pleading with him to consider the long-term development of national security, the economy and public welfare, and facilitate the passage of the proposed general budget and special defense budget. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said it is unfair to the public when the president of a country takes the lead in spreading false information.

Taiwanese singer-songwriter Yuan Wei-jen dies at 57Staff Writer, with CNATaiwanese singer-songwriter and record producer Yuan Wei-jen (袁惟仁), also known as “Xiao Pang Lao Shi” (Little Fat Teacher), died Monday at the age of 57, his family said. Singer and songwriter Yuan Wei-jen. Photo: Taipei TimesIn 2020, Yuan was again hospitalized in intensive care after another fall at his home in Taitung. Yuan’s second eldest sister Yuan Ai-chen (袁藹珍) said in a message posted on record producer Chen Tzu-hung’s (陳子鴻) Facebook page that Yuan passed away peacefully and was finally free. When Yuan collapsed in Shanghai, Lu traveled from Taiwan with their two children to visit him, according to local media reports.

LeBron selected to 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star GameAFP, NEW YORKLeBron James was on Sunday selected to his 22nd consecutive NBA All-Star Game, with the 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward being named among reserves from the Western Conference. James was not selected as a starter, but was chosen among seven reserves from both the Eastern and Western conferences made by NBA head coaches. The 75th NBA All-Star Game is to be contested on Feb. 15 in Los Angeles with a new tournament format featuring a World team and two sets of US stars, each roster of at least eight players. The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James dribbles during their NBA game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday. East All-Stars include Greek big man Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, New York’s Jalen Brunson and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.

‘Health coins’ to be integrated into appsHEALTHY LIVING: Many businesses have expressed willingness to participate in the ‘health coin’ program, including convenience stores and health brands, an official saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe government’s “health coin” system, to be launched this year for people to accumulate and spend on healthy food, products and services, would be integrated with government health apps, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said yesterday. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) in October last year announced the program aimed at raising health awareness. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang speaks at an event in Taipei yesterday. The app would have a designated “health coins” section, he said. Many businesses have expressed willingness to participate in the program, including insurance companies, convenience stores, health management apps and sports brands, he added.

City were cruising toward what would have been another damaging defeat for Spurs boss Thomas Frank as they led 2-0 at halftime. However, Solanke scored twice in the second half to leave Pep Guardiola’s men six points adrift of leaders Arsenal. Just a second defeat in nine league games dealt a blow to Fulham’s own hopes of European football next season. Villa laid siege to the Brentford goal after the break, but lacked the invention to break the visitors down. Crystal Palace also failed to make the most of a man advantage in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

China Airlines to fly national team to WBCBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterChina Airlines yesterday announced that it would fly the national baseball team to Japan for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) next month, adding that it is offering discounted flights to Japan for all travelers from now until Feb. 22. The airline also sponsors three Taiwanese baseball players competing in the WBC: including pitcher Lin Yu-min (林昱? Models pose in a China Airlines poster showing support for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic next month. The Team Taiwan logo would appear on pillows, cups and headrest covers on the charter flights, the airline said. Starting on Feb. 24, participants of interactive games designed by the airline would have a chance to receive codes for airfare discounts, China Airlines said.

China exploiting duty exemptionsBy Chen Yung-chang 陳永昌According to statistics from the European Commission, 5.8 billion duty-free, low-value e-commerce parcels entered the EU last year, a 26 percent increase from the year before. Yet, as the dumping of ultra-low-priced goods has intensified, a flood of duty-free parcels has hit brick-and-mortar retail channels and the broader labor market hard. In late August last year, US President Donald Trump took drastic action by fully abolishing the duty-free exemption for parcels valued under US$800. Beginning on Jan. 1, Bangkok abolished the duty-free exemption for parcels valued below 1,500 baht (US$47.46). Chuang last week told the Legislative Yuan that there are no plans to abolish the duty-free exemption for low-value parcels.

The TAIEX ended down 439.72 points to 31,624.03 with turnover of NT$740.40 billion (US$23.4 billion). “Fortunately, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) benefited from late session bargain hunting to recoup part of the TAIEX’s losses,” Tang said. Shihlin Electric & Engineering Corp (士林電機) shed 5.68 percent to close at NT$216.00, and Fortune Electric Co (華城電機) slid 2.89 percent to end at NT$942.00. “Judging from today’s movement, the TAIEX seemed to have technical support ahead of the 20-day moving average of 31,300 points for now,” Tang said. Foreign institutional investors sold a net NT$48.12 billion of shares on the main board yesterday, the Taiwan Stock Exchange said.

The Taipei-based think tank attributed the heating up largely to the conclusion of reciprocal tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the US. All six major manufacturing sectors reported expansion, while the six-month outlook index surged 10 points to 61 — the fastest pace of expansion since March 2022. Supply Management Institute in Taiwan (中華採購與供應管理協會) advisor Jerry Pai (白宗城) described manufacturing conditions as “red-hot,” based on a wave of genuine restocking demand ahead of holidays. Services activity strengthened, with the NMI remaining in expansion for an 11th straight month, the institute said. Hospitality, finance, transport and logistics all improved, while construction and real estate returned to expansion on demand for semiconductor and high-end technology facilities, it said.

EDITORIAL: New Fed head signals stark changeUS President Donald Trump on Friday last week nominated former US Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who Trump has repeatedly criticized for not cutting interest rates more swiftly. The decision was widely expected, and not unanimous, as two of the 12 Fed officials backed a quarter-point rate cut. Economists considered Warsh as the safest choice of Trump’s Fed chair candidates, which also included Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, as well as US National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. Despite his long-standing tendency to be tough on inflation, Warsh has more recently talked about the need to lower rates, aligning with Trump’s stance. Choosing a Fed chair is never merely a personnel change; it is a significant decision that signals the direction of US economic policy.

MSCI rates Taiwan highlyBloombergTaiwan has overtaken China as the market with the top weighting in a key emerging-markets stock index for the first time in about two decades, driven by a rally in artificial intelligence (AI) shares. The Asian chipmaking hub accounts for 21.06 percent of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, squeaking past China’s 20.93 percent at the end of last month. It marks the first time Taiwan has surpassed China since July 2007, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “It underscores increasing interest in the laggard plays in Asia AI given better valuations.”MSCI’s Taiwan Index rose more than 11 percent in January, compared with a 5 percent gain in the MSCI China benchmark. Citigroup Inc strategists upgraded Taiwan equities to overweight from neutral in December, citing their exposure to global AI supply chains and a more favorable earnings outlook.

The strike injured several more people and sparked a fire that was subsequently put out, emergency services said. The site of a Russian strike on a civilian bus transporting miners in Ternivka, Ukraine, is pictured on Sunday. Hours earlier, Ukraine’s emergency services reported that Russian attack drones injured six people at a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine, on Sunday morning. Earlier on Sunday, Russian attack drones struck a maternity hospital in southern Ukraine, the emergency service reported. The Russian Ministry of Defense on Sunday said that air defenses shot down 21 Ukrainian drones flying over southwestern and western Russia.