THSRC launches onboard digital service for real-time passenger reportsStaff Writer, with CNATaiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSR) yesterday launched a new onboard digital customer service system, allowing passengers to report issues in real time by scanning a QR code. Passengers can scan the QR code printed on safety instruction cards placed in seat pockets to access a dedicated “onboard digital service” page, the company said in a news release. After verification, users can select a report category and enter details such as train number, carriage and seat. The service is designed for issues such as noise disturbances or spilled drinks during a journey. For cases involving infants or other unavoidable noise, staff will respond with a family-friendly approach and provide appropriate assistance, it said.

Minister mum on whether Honduran lawmaker to visitStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s top diplomat yesterday stopped short of confirming whether the country plans to invite the Honduran National Congress’ pro-Taiwan speaker for a visit. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung speaks to reporters before attending a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee in Taipei yesterday. Zambrano — then an opposition lawmaker — had warned former Honduran president Xiomara Castro that the decision to sever ties with Taiwan in favor of China was a mistake, Wang said. After being elected speaker of the Honduran congress in January, Zambrano reiterated his support for Taipei over Beijing, saying the shift in diplomatic ties had hurt local businesses. Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who took office in January, had pledged during his campaign to restore ties with Taipei.

Defense is not a bargaining chipBy Defense is not a bargaining chip 陳清雲Negotiations over the special defense budget are still stalled in the Legislative Yuan, with proposals varying widely and amounts ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$1.25 trillion (US$11.9 billion to US$39.1 billion). However, for most of the public, the issue is actually quite simple — should Taiwan’s national security be treated as a political bargaining chip? National defense is not an option — it is a bottom line. Only by retaining military personnel can Taiwan’s national defense be sustained. National defense must no longer be stalled, arms procurement must not lie idle and the legislature must not continue to be consumed by internal conflict.

Slew of policy changes to be applied this monthStaff writerA slew of government and private-sector policy changes that would impact livelihood issues from the cost of airfares to rules governing the employment of migrant domestic workers are entering into effect this month. An officer of the Aviation Bureau Police puts a handbag on a tray at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday. EVA Air, China Airlines and Starlux Airlines separately announced plans to hike air fares that would be announced this month. The Ministry of Labor is relaxing the subsidized employment of migrant domestic workers for households, allowing families to hire one migrant worker for every child younger than12. The latest adjustment marks the lowest number of items with price changes since the implementation of the Drug Expenditure Target in 2013, the agency said.

‘Taiwan Travelogue’ shortlisted for final of Booker PrizeStaff Writer, with CNATaiwan Travelogue, a novel by Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi (楊?子), is among six shortlisted titles for this year’s International Booker Prize — the first time a Taiwanese author has reached the final stage of the prestigious award. The Booker Prize Foundation on Tuesday announced the finalists from a longlist of 13 titles, narrowed down from 128 submissions. The annual prize recognizes fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. “Taiwan Travelogue,” right, is on the short list of the International Booker Prize this year. First published in 2020, Taiwan Travelogue is set in 1938 and is a work of historical fiction that explores friendship and colonial identity through a culinary journey across Taiwan.

Snow falls on Yushan as unstable weather predictedStaff writer, with CNASnow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山), Taiwan's highest peak, at about 11:30am today before stopping at about noon, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it also warned of rainy weather during the upcoming holiday weekend. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said temperatures were about 0.8°C as snow fell on the 3,952m mountain, but the snow tapered off as the humidity in the air dropped and temperatures rose. Snow is pictured at the Yushan Weather Station in Nantou County today. Photo courtesy of the Yushan Weather StationMore snowfall is unlikely over the next two days due to low humidity, but another weather front on Saturday could bring renewed chances of snow, depending on temperatures, Lin said. The CWA cautioned that spring weather can be volatile and forecasts may change.

US representative asked to explain workplace bullying claimsStaff writer, with CNAMinister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) today said he has asked Representative to the US Alexander Yui (俞大㵢) to make a public explanation amid renewed allegations of workplace bullying. Lin reiterated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace bullying, while its human resources department is investigating the matter internally. Lin told lawmakers that the human resources department is currently working to clarify the details, and that Yui had sent him a message explaining his side of the story. While everyone has different leadership styles and methods, they must never cross the line into workplace bullying, Lin said. Noting that this is not the first time Yui has faced bullying accusations, KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) asked whether the envoy could be summoned to brief the committee via video link.

China Airlines launches second Pokemon-themed planeBy Chu Pei-hsiung and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerChina Airlines unveiled its second Pokemon-themed aircraft in partnership with The Pokemon Company, the “Pikachu Jet CI2,” at a news conference today. The jet would fly to Tokyo and serve long-haul routes such as Seattle, Phoenix, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, China Airlines president Chen Han-ming (陳漢銘) said. Pikachus dance in front of a newly designed Pokemon-themed China Airlines plane at a news conference in Taoyuan today. A flight attendant displays Pokemon-themed items on the “Pikachu Jet CI2" today. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesThe airline is also offering exclusive in-flight gifts such as Pikachu pens and sticky notes, as well as Pokemon-themed children’s meals.

Water quality in 70% of rivers steadily improving: MOENVBy Wu Po-hsuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe number of severely polluted river monitoring stations in Taiwan has fallen to a record low — only two compared with 66 in 2002 — as the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) moves to tighten enforcement on illegal wastewater discharge and address emerging contaminants in drinking water. The ministry launched a major project to clean up Taiwan’s rivers in 2002, as improper treatment of wastewater from factories, pig farms and households led to widespread pollution. The proportion of rivers classified as polluted has also fallen from 14 percent to 1.9 percent, with water quality in 70 percent of national rivers showing steady improvement, he said. There are 26 monitoring stations that are on the threshold between moderate and severe pollution, and have been placed under close watch, he added. The ministry is tackling illegal wastewater discharge from factories and night markets by installing automatic monitoring stations to detect abnormalities, Deputy Minister of Environment Yeh Jiunn-horng (葉俊宏) said.

National airlines to increase fuel surcharges by 157%By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan’s national airlines are to raise fuel surcharges by about US$27.50 for short-haul international flights and US$71.50 for long-haul flights starting on Tuesday next week, Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) Director Ho Shu-ping (何淑萍) said today, citing rising international oil prices amid Middle East tensions. Aircraft operated by China Airlines Ltd, Eva Airways Corp and Starlux Airlines Co are pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in an undated photograph. Many national airlines have already raised booking service fees over the past month, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said, inquiring about plans to increase fuel surcharges. Fuel prices account for about 40 percent of airlines' operating costs, according to market estimates. If CPC Corp’s fuel prices rise for three consecutive months, domestic ticket prices would increase by an average of NT$97, Ho said.

Alishan Railway ranked world’s fifth most beautiful train journeyBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerTaiwan's Alishan Forest Railway has been named the fifth most beautiful train journey in the world, after a new eye-tracking study conducted by travel insurance specialist InsureandGo. The UK-based firm analyzed 24 well-known rail routes across the globe, tracking the eye movements of 100 participants. The Alishan Express travels up a mountain past an upland forest of Formosan cypress trees in an undated photograph. The Alishan Forest Railway in Chiayi County ranked in fifth, with an average viewing duration of 1.89 seconds and a time to first fixation of 2.03 seconds, InsureandGo said. The company added it hopes to promote train travel as a more sustainable way to travel, offering a slower pace and “once-in-a-lifetime" views.

Taiwan novel on International Booker Prize shortlist for first timeStaff writer, with CNATaiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), a novel by Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子), is among the six shortlisted titles for this year's International Booker Prize, the first time a Taiwanese author has reached the final stage of the prestigious award. Taiwan Travelogue author Yang Shuang-zi speaks at an event in Taichung on May 4 last year. The foundation said the novel's appearance on the shortlist represented the first time a Taiwanese writer had made the cut and that a victory for the novel would represent a historic first for Taiwan. According to the foundation, this year's shortlist features writers and translators from eight countries: Taiwan, the UK, the US, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France and Germany. Published in 2020, Taiwan Travelogue is set in 1938 and is a work of historical fiction that explores friendship and colonial identity through a culinary journey across Taiwan.

Actor ‘Prince’ questioned in latest draft dodging crackdownBy Lu Yun-feng and Hollie YoungerActor Chiu Sheng-yi (邱勝翊, better known as Prince, 王子) was brought in for questioning today, the latest in a slew of entertainers being investigated on suspicion of evading compulsory military service. This wave is expected to bring in 10 people for questioning, including minor online influencers. Actor Chiu Sheng-yi, better known as Prince, left, is led by prosecutors for questioning in New Taipei City this morning. Three entertainers turned themselves in to prosecutors for evading military service, including actor Hsueh Shih-ling (薛仕凌), a recipient of a Golden Bell Award. Those brought in for questioning today are alleged to have used the same methods to gain a fraudulent medical certificate and evade military service.

Chinese artist on trial for Mao sculpturesReuters, BEIJINGChinese dissident artist Gao Zhen (高兟), famous for making provocative satirical sculptures of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong (毛澤東), was tried on Monday over accusations of “defaming national heroes and martyrs,” his wife and a rights group said. A People’s Liberation Army honor guard stands under an umbrella during heavy snowfall with the Tiananmen Gate featuring a portrait of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in the background, ahead of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on March 4. “Gao Zhen is an artist. EU diplomats tried to attend the trial, but were blocked from entering, its China mission said in a social media post. Their most famous works include Miss Mao, featuring Mao with unsettling features such as Pinocchio noses and breasts, and Mao’s Guilt, a bronze statue of the leader kneeling remorsefully.

Sixty-two lawmakers, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted in favor and 48 against the bill, championed by Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir. Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, center, and lawmakers celebrate after parliament passed a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis in Jerusalem on Monday. The bill would make the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed “acts of terrorism” by an Israeli military court. The bill says that the sentence can be reduced to life imprisonment under “special circumstances.”Palestinians in the West Bank are automatically tried in Israeli military courts. “The law creates two parallel tracks, both designed to apply to Palestinians,” the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said in a statement.