Preclearance entry to Japan to start next weekBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporter Staff reporter Staff reporterA preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. A sign explaining the pre-clearance service for travelers to Japan is pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Feb.1, 2024. Upon arrival in Japan, travelers only need to reconfirm their identity to complete the process and enter the country, it added. When accessing preclearance service, travelers should present a handwritten Japanese immigration card or the entry information they filled in via the Visit Japan Web (VJW), the company said, adding that those who choose the latter must show the information on live screen for verification.

DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) said Huang had two aides with him when he took the confidential materials out of the meeting room. They might have taken photos to help Huang plan his own version of special defense budget or might have leaked state secrets, Shen said. “That is sufficient time for Huang’s aides to take photos of the documents, page by page,” Chen said. Huang last week said that he would propose his own version of the special defense budget, she added. “The US side is to reveal the content of those special budget items in the coming weeks.

Chinese AI is focused on information management, a Beijing-based governance model and the commercialization of AI, Democratic Governance Program director Huang Kai-shen (黃凱紳) said. Program deputy director Lai You-hao (賴又豪) said that China’s alleged attempt to siphon information from other countries is apparent in its push for global markets to deploy its AI software. Liu I-chen (劉以正), Asia-Pacific program officer for the London-based Article 19 rights group, said that human rights risk being undermined or abused by using Chinese-developed AI models. Chou Chih-ho (周智禾), deputy director-general of the Ministry of Digital Affairs’ Cyber Security Administration, said that Taipei has been improving information security since 2001. Tu Yu-yin (涂予尹), a professor of public administration at Tamkang University, said that information security systems are not the crux of the issue.

Kaohsiung offers bear mugs to blood donorsGIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boostBy Hsu Li-chuan,Tang Shih-ming and Esme Yeh

Coreweave Inc’s Michael Intrator also touched on the “physicality” of the AI boom at a panel later yesterday, with the data center firm’s CEO describing the need for growing numbers of plumbers, electricians and carpenters. The company is on track to generate almost US$200 billion in data center chip sales for last year, according to an average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg. To date, the bulk of its revenue comes from the biggest data center builders — Microsoft Corp, Meta Platforms Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc — but it’s striking deals with a growing number of smaller data center operators. Tech firms have committed to spend a combined US$500 billion in data center leases in the coming years. Anthropic PBC CEO Dario Amodei has warned about a “white-collar bloodbath” that could wipe out 50 percent of entry-level jobs.

Firm indicted for soaking intestines in industrial chemicalsStaff writer, with CNAProsecutors yesterday said Pai Wei Foods Co, its owner and two employees have been indicted for allegedly soaking spoiled pork intestines in industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide before selling them on the market. A Pingtung County health official seals off a cold storage warehouse owned by Pai Wei Foods last year. The employees reportedly mixed 200ml of industrial hydrogen peroxide with water to soak and stir intestines deemed visually unappealing, packaging them for sale once the odor was eliminated. Prosecutors said the defendants knowingly used industrial chemicals not approved for food processing, posing a potential risk to public health. Pai Wei Foods was also indicted and faces a criminal fine.

Shorter trips popular as travel surpasses pre-pandemic levels: tour agencyBy Tsai Yun-jung and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNATaiwanese travelers are favoring shorter, more frequent trips that emphasize personally meaningful experiences, the Sunday Tours travel agency said yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Tourism AdministrationTotal travel spending for last year is expected to surpass NT$1 trillion (US$31.6 billion), Chen said. The number of trips abroad would continue to grow, as shorter, more frequent trips become more common, averaging about two-and-a-half trips per person annually, he said. Sunday Tours has already reached 70 percent of its sales goal for this year, with short trips being particularly popular, Chen said. Japan continues to be a popular travel destination among Taiwanese tourists, he added.

US House committee approves US$1.15bn for Taiwan defenseStaff writer, with CNAA US House of Representative committee on Monday released its version of this year's Consolidated Appropriations Act that included US$1.15 billion to support security cooperation with Taiwan. The omnibus act, covering a total of US$1.2 trillion in spending, allocates US$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI) and US$150 million for the replacement of defense articles and reimbursement of defense services provided to Taiwan. The flags of Taiwan and the US are displayed in Taipei on March 27, 2018. Photo: Tyrone Siu, ReutersThose fund allocations were based on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that was passed by Congress last month and authorized up to US$1 billion to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in support of the TSCI. Whether this funding actually gets released would depend on how the Consolidated Appropriations Act proceeds through Congress.

Ministry launches app to map stray dogsBy Yang Yuan-ting and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of Agriculture today released an app for the public to help track stray dog sightings, allowing users to take photographs of stray dogs and geo-tag their location, assisted by artificial intelligence (AI). The data would be used in the future to identify stray dog hotspots, increase management of stray dogs and build a nationwide risk assessment map, the Department of Animal Welfare said. It would further work toward the goal of stabilizing and reducing the stray dog population, it added. Hotspots for issues between stray dogs and humans or ecological conflicts were previously handled by local governments according to their respective management needs, it said. The app would overcome these limitations and encourage citizen participation to accumulate data on stray dog groups, it added.

Cold air mass to blanket Taiwan through FridayStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued low-temperature alerts for 10 cities and counties across Taiwan amid a strong continental cold air mass that is to grip much of Taiwan through Friday. Northern Taiwan would remain cold and damp today and tomorrow, with occasional rain, while snowfall is possible in mountainous areas above 2,000m, Wu said. Conditions in northern Taiwan are expected to turn mostly cloudy starting on Friday, while eastern Taiwan may still see sporadic showers, Wu said. Looking ahead, Wu said models indicate generally stable weather from Saturday to Tuesday next week, with temperatures gradually rising. Weaker northeasterly winds would then move south from Tuesday to Friday, bringing cooler temperatures and rain to northern and eastern Taiwan, Wu said.

Money mules ordered to repay fraud gains in mother-daughter suicide caseBy Liu Yung-yun and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Shilin District Court has ordered two money mules to pay NT$2 million and NT$160,000 (US$63,211 and US$5,057) respectively in connection to a fraud case from 2024 that allegedly led a mother and daughter from Taipei’s Neihu District (内湖) to take their own lives. After the mother, surnamed Ning (甯), 55, and daughter, surnamed Tseng (曾), 29, took their own lives in December 2024, police identified 10 suspects in the case. The plaintiff said that Cheng, Yen and several other money mules had collected a total of NT$4.61 million. As his mother’s heir, he said he assumed her right to claim damages, arguing that the money mules should bear joint and several liability. The court found that Cheng joined the fraud ring in June 2024 and was responsible for collecting money.

Tropical storm forming, cold air mass expectedBACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,By Lin Chih-yi

Harris leads Pistons past Celtics in thrillerAFP, LOS ANGELESTobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren dunks the ball during their NBA match against the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday. Photo: Rick Osentoski / Imagn ImagesJaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the final seconds, his attempted buzzer-beater bouncing off the rim as Detroit clung on for a one-point victory. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 19 points while four Cavs players — Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson and De’Andre Hunter — all finished with 16 points apiece.

The breakthrough has galvanized China’s AI scene, despite hurdles posed by rivalry with the US, and fears of a global market bubble. Photo: AFP“It gave a lot of people confidence” that China’s AI community previously lacked, Wu said. Shi, the fund’s vice-president, described a “clear surge” in enthusiasm around Chinese AI and competition among investors since the DeepSeek shock. The logo of Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is displayed in January last year over its mobile application in Beijing. Photo: AFPENGINEER DIVIDENDShares in two leading Chinese AI startups, Zhipu AI and MiniMax, soared on their market debuts in Hong Kong this month.

Man jailed for attempted bribery in bid to get information for ChinaStaff writer, with CNAA former employee of a Taiwanese airline was sentenced to six months in prison for attempting to bribe a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official to obtain classified information on behalf of Chinese intelligence, the Taiwan High Court ruled yesterday. The high court ruled that the man, surnamed Chiao (喬), was guilty of attempted bribery under the Anti-Corruption Act and sentenced him to six months in prison and ordered the confiscation of illicit gains totaling Chinese yuan 30,000 (about NT$136,339). Chiao declined to comment when approached by reporters after the ruling, saying only that he respected the court’s decision. The outlets also said the MAC research dealt with cross- strait flights or defense-related topics. In response to the verdict, the MAC said many of its research projects involve classified information and are frequently targeted by people seeking to obtain such material.