Parents express concern over students’ safetyBy Yang Hsin-hui and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writerA Taipei third-grader brandished a pair of scissors in class, a parent said, adding that the incident has raised concerns about campus safety and the handling of students with behavioral issues. Parents of other students rejected that claim, saying other students are afraid of the outburst-prone classmate. The Taipei City Department of Education said the school has established standard operating procedures for emergency incidents and strengthened classroom safety management. Given that elementary-Aschool students have limited offensive and defensive capabilities, schools should take the lead in risk management, he said. Possible measures include adjusting seating arrangements, providing close supervision and placing high-risk students where homeroom teachers can easily monitor them, he said.

The Jamestown Foundation think tank in a report published in September last year said that oil rigs could serve as relay stations for drone communications, and that China’s oil rigs around the Pratas Islands are boosting its “kill chain,” as well as its command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (C5ISRT) capabilities. Photo courtesy of Chen Ching-nengChina has 12 oil rigs around Pratas Islands, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), including seven rig structures, three floating production storage and offloading vessels, and two semi-submersible oil platforms, it said. These state-owned structures have dual-use potential and “may be more valuable for constraining Taiwan’s space than for their nominal commercial purpose of extracting oil,” the report said. On the surface, they are tools for developing resources, but they could also be used to gather intelligence and deploy the military, Yang said. Establishing offshore platforms inside Taiwan’s EEZ without permission infringes on UN law, but Taiwan cannot dispute this, as it is not a UN member, she added.

Lai outlines draft animal protectionsKINDNESS TO CRITTERS: The draft amendments aims to curtail free-roaming feral animals, interdict illegal breeding operations and treat strays humanelyBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with CNAThe government will continue to promote amendments to the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法) as well as encourage “adopt, don’t shop” and “zero pet abandonment” policies, President William Lai (賴清德) said at a pet gathering yesterday. President William Lai, left, reacts on stage at the Dogs and Cats Carnival in Taipei yesterday. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesThe Department of Animal Welfare, which was established under the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) two years ago, is dedicated to collaboration with civic groups on animal welfare promotion. In the draft amendments, Lai outlined the prioritization of managing free-roaming animals, clampdowns on illegal breeding, and humane capture of stray cats and dogs and their sterilization before being released for adoption. Other measures promoted in the bill include strengthening animal registration, conducting regular performance evaluations of animal shelters, banning feeding animals around natural reserves and stiffer penalties for those charged with abusing animals, he added.

RT-Mart employee sentenced for 2022 assault of intern at Kaohsiung storeASSAULT OF A MINOR The former security employee received a prison sentence of more than 13 years for assaulting and blackmailing the victim while at workBy Huang Chia-lin and Jason Pan / Staff reportersA Kaohsiung RT-Mart security employee was sentenced to more than 13 years imprisonment for sexual assault, while the court required the parent company to financially compensate the victim. The Kaohsiung District Court convicted the RT-Mart employee, surnamed Chang (張), of sexual assault of a minor for actions at his workplace in January 2022. The court mandated reparations of NT$3 million (US$95,021) which Chang was unable to pay, lacking the finances or assets. The court ruled in the victim’s favor, saying that RT-Mart was negligent in its duty. PX Mart said in a release that they would comply with the court’s decision and pay out financial compensation to the victim.

It is not surprising, as the issue of Chinese collaborators in Taiwan is not something new and has been a long-standing problem, Hung said. However, this incident has shown the public that Chinese infiltration is no longer limited to political figures or grassroots organizations, but has deeply penetrated into the information production chain, Hung said. This type of infiltration is highly covert and is the most difficult part of cognitive warfare to defend against, he said. CTi News said one of its reporters, Lin Chen-you (林宸佑), has been detained, but that it was not aware of the case details. Prosecutors said that Lin paid military officers bribes ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars in exchange for providing information to Chinese people.

These forecasts noticeably improved last year, with errors in 24-hour forecasts for typhoon paths 12 percent lower than in 2024, it said. Introducing smart programs and AI models has significantly reduced errors in typhoon forecasts, the CWA said. The CWA frequently used AI models last year as forecasters became more familiar with them, improving typhoon forecast accuracy, Huang said. With success in more accurately predicting typhoon paths, the CWA would next turn to applying AI models to model wind and rain levels, Huang said. The agency’s traditional physical models have reached resolution of 1 to 3km, while large AI models only have a resolution of 25 to 28km, he said.

TPP announces its policy agenda for local electionsStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday unveiled its policy platform for the local elections. The TPP’s 80-page policy white paper is more substantive and practical than typical reports submitted by central ministries to the legislature, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said. The party’s platform has on four core goals: stabilizing society, supporting families, safeguarding health and safety, and bolstering industries, he said. Meanwhile, Huang said a joint agenda with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has been largely drafted and is awaiting ratification. The KMT still needs to carry out internal candidate nomination procedures, which the TPP respects, he said.

Carrick’s United defeat Manchester CityAFP, LONDONMichael Carrick on Saturday made a flying start to life as Manchester United boss against Manchester City, but English Premier League leaders Arsenal missed a chance to pull nine points clear. Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick, right, and Matheus Cunha celebrate after winning their English Premier League match against Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Saturday. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez heads the ball ahead of Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Saturday. A frustrated Arteta, chasing a first Premier League title for the Gunners since 2004, felt that his side should have been awarded a penalty, believing Ola Aina had handled the ball. Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 2-1 while Leeds United scored late on to beat Fulham 1-0, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Taiwan eases work, residency restrictions for foreign professionalsNew measures aimed at making Taiwan more attractive to foreign professionals came into effect this month, the National Development Council said yesterday. Among the changes, international students at Taiwanese universities would be able to work in Taiwan without a work permit in the two years after they graduate, explainer materials provided by the council said. In addition, foreign nationals who graduated from one of the world’s top 200 universities within the past five years can also apply for a two-year open work permit. Previously, those graduates would have needed to apply for a work permit using point-based criteria or have a Taiwanese company

Former KMT chair candidate who told legislator not to speak Hoklo slammedBy Fang Wei-li and Jason Pan / Staff reportersA demand by Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) speak Mandarin during a public hearing at the Legislative Yuan has been condemned by linguists and pan-green camp politicians. Chang then interrupted him, saying: “Please speak Guoyu [國語, Mandarin].”Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung is pictured at a hearing at the Legislative Yuan on Thursday. If you cannot understand what I said, you can use a translator,” Wang told Chang in Hoklo. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Yi-chuan attends a hearing at the Legislative Yuan on Thursday. Chang was discriminating against Hoklo speakers and does not know that under the law, it is now one of Taiwan’s national languages, some people said.

Proceed with caution regarding the ‘no parole’ change to Criminal Code: NHRCBy Jason Pan / Staff reporter, with CNATaiwan should proceed with caution regarding a proposal to deny the possibility of parole for people who commit major crimes and are sentenced to life imprisonment, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a paper released on Friday. The entrance of the National Human Rights Commission at the Control Yuan in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. “Permanently excluding any possibility of individualized review through legislation might exceed the limits permitted by the Constitution and international human rights standards, and therefore requires careful consideration,” it said. Taiwan has already incorporated into law a number of international human rights covenants, which have been frequently cited and applied by the nation’s courts, the commission said. “It is important to protect public safety while ensuring the criminal justice system does not contravene the core values of protecting human rights,” the commission said.

Taiwan office move lacks transparency: S African lawmakerISSUE: South Africa in 2024 announced it would categorize the office as a ‘trade office’ and relocate it from administrative capital, Pretoria, to JohannesburgStaff writer, with CNASouth Africa’s decision to ask Taiwan to relocate and rename its representative office in Pretoria lacked transparency and was not properly reviewed, a South African lawmaker from the country’s second-largest political party said. “There has been no full debate, no serious committee engagement and no attempt by the executive to explain itself in a transparent way,” said Janho Engelbrecht, a South African National Assembly member representing the Democratic Alliance party. It is unclear how widely Engelbrecht’s views are held in the 400-seat South African National Assembly, or even within his party, which holds 87 seats and is a key player in the governing coalition led by the ANC. DIRCO had asked Taiwan to move the office in 2024 and complete the move in six months, but did not announce it until the deadline was near. The representative office in Pretoria and South Africa’s office in Taiwan are still operating normally, the ministry said.

Ansgar Knauff snatches late draw for FrankfurtAFP, BERLINAnsgar Knauff on Friday scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch a point for out-of-sorts Eintracht Frankfurt in a 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen. With less than a quarter-of-an-hour to play, Frankfurt led 2-1, but goals from Jens Stage and Jovan Milosevic in a three-minute spell turned the match on its head. Werder Bremen’s Jovan Miosevic controls the ball during their German Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Bremen, Germany, on Friday. Photo: dpa via APHowever, Knauff’s late strike snatched a share of the spoils for Frankfurt. The hosts rallied and looked on track for victory until Knauff’s late heroics.

Lions’ Chen Yung-chi to retire after the 2026 seasonStaff writer, with CNATen-time Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) All-Star Chen Yung-chi is retiring from the sport after this season with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. “This year will be my last season,” the veteran infielder said at a media event in Taipei on Friday. The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions’ Chen Yung-chi poses for a photograph at a media event in Taipei on Friday. Set to turn 43 in July, Chen signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2004 and began his professional career in the US. Storvick urged Chen to dream bigger.

Harden steps up late as Clippers edge RaptorsAFP, LOS ANGELESJames Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden, right, protects the ball from the Toronto Raptors’ Ochai Agbaji during their NBA match in Toronto on Friday. Photo: APHarden made four free-throws to open overtime as the Clippers pulled away, scoring eight of their 12 points in the decisive extra frame. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points to lead seven Raptors players to score in double figures.