Stabbing suspect acted solo, motive unclear, police sayStaff writer, with CNAA police investigation has found that a man who went on a stabbing spree in Taipei last month acted alone and that the fall from a building that killed him was not an accident, but police remain unsure of what motivated the attacks. The 27-year-old suspect, Chang Wen (張文), killed three people and injured 11 during the attack. Photo: CNABefore the attack, Chang destroyed his laptop and left his bank account nearly empty, police said. Police said they still had not determined a clear motive behind Chang’s actions, despite the considerable amount of information they accessed. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and that its final report is expected to be released soon.

Court issues first judgement of the new yearBy Yang Hsin-hui and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAThe Constitutional Court yesterday issued its first judgement of the new year, with five out of eight justices ruling that a defendant’s attorney can petition to cancel or change a court-ordered detention, as long as it aligns with the defendant’s interests and wishes. The judgement yesterday said that these three justices also refused to participate in deliberations in this case. Lin was indicted by the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office for contravening the Firearms, Ammunition and Knives Control Act (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例) and the Pingtung District Court ordered his detention on Dec. 29, 2022. The Pingtung District Court later rejected a request by Lin’s attorney to revoke the detention, as it only bore the attorney’s signature and not the defendant’s. In yesterday’s judgement, the Constitutional Court ruled that this decision was unconstitutional and said it should be annulled, remanding the case to the Pingtung District Court.

Labor funds posted gains of NT$976 billion, bureau saysSOARING MARKETS: The value of assets in the Labor Pension Fund in November last year totaled NT$5.10 trillion and its rate of return stood at 13.70 percentStaff writer, with CNAFunds managed by the Bureau of Labor Funds posted solid year-to-date gains of about NT$976 billion (US$31.06 billion) in the first 11 months of last year on the back of soaring financial markets, the bureau said yesterday. Data compiled by the bureau showed that the accumulated gains, which reflect overall increases in the value of assets and investments, totaled NT$976.2 billion after NT$116.8 billion in gains in November alone. The combined value of the funds managed by the bureau — the Labor Pension Fund, the Labor Retirement Fund, the Labor Insurance Fund, the Employment Insurance Fund and the Arrear Wage Payment Fund — totaled NT$7.695 trillion as of the end of November last year. The Labor Retirement Fund, which has been in place since 1984, had about NT$1.06 trillion in assets with a rate of return of 20.07 percent, it said. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Service Pension Fund yesterday said that the Public Service Pension Fund managed by the bureau recorded NT$138.09 billion in gains during the same 11 months, a rate of return of 13.42 percent.

Defense autonomy key, ministry saysDETERRENCE: Only by increasing its capabilities can Taiwan’s military show China that it should not act rashly and that such actions would come at a costBy Fang Wei-li and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of National Defense yesterday stressed the importance of building a self-sufficient, non-China-reliant national defense industry, adding that this focus is a critical part of the ministry’s efforts to develop drone production supply chains. made the remarks in an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) yesterday, stating that, as an island, Taiwan is at high risk of being blockaded and cut off from external supplies. Fostering a self-reliant national defense industry would mitigate the threats of such blockades, he said. Department of Strategic Planning Director Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi speaks to the Chinese-language Liberty Times during an interview yesterday. Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang speaks to the Chinese-language Liberty Times during an interview yesterday.

Formosan black bear burgles hut in Chiayi CountyStaff writer, with CNAA Formosan black bear broke into a hut in Chiayi County‘s Dabang Village (達邦), eating canned goods and food from the resident’s refrigerator, the first officially recorded incident of its kind in the area, local authorities said on Thursday. A Formosan black bear is pictured at a low altitude in Taichung in June last year. Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation AgencySpecialists found tracks near the hut and, based on the damaged canned food, concluded that a Formosan black bear was responsible, the agency said. Alishan is an area where Formosan black bears are occasionally sighted, but Wednesday’s incident was the first officially recorded case of a bear entering a resident’s hut, according to the agency, which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture. The recent sightings of Formosan black bears captured on camera are due to increased monitoring and do not represent unusual behavior, Hwang said during a Taiwan Public Television Service interview on Dec. 12.

Legislators approve, block two Executive Yuan billsBy Chung Li-hua / Staff reporterThe Legislative Yuan yesterday approved the Executive Yuan’s proposal for stricter China travel rules for officials for committee review, but blocked its proposed amendments on public speech on the Internet. Under the Executive Yuan’s proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), civil servants ranked below “grade 10” who are not involved in classified work would be required to obtain approval from their agencies before traveling to China. Police officers guard an entrance to the Legislative Yuan in Taipei in an undated photograph. The opposition yesterday blocked the Executive Yuan’s proposed amendments to the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法) that would have seen offenders face maximum fines of up to NT$30,000 for spreading hate speech in public places. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus said the proposed amendment is akin to Internet martial law.

Flight disruption was deliberate ploy, experts sayStaff writer, with CNAThe disruption of 941 flights in and out of Taiwan due to China’s large-scale military exercises was no accident, but rather the result of a “quasi-blockade” used to simulate creating the air and sea routes needed for an amphibious landing, a military expert said. The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said the exercises affected 857 international flights and 84 domestic flights, affecting more than 100,000 travelers. First, it simulated a “quasi-blockade” by shutting down some of Taiwan’s international air routes, Su wrote in an article published on the institute’s Web site on Wednesday. Such integration is intended to secure the sea lines of communication and air routes necessary for logistics and military sustainment during an eventual amphibious landing, he said. While blocking most of Taiwan’s air routes, China deliberately left open three — M750, G587 and R583, Su said.

Former president Chen to host showStaff writer, with CNAFormer president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) announced yesterday that he will host a show on a local cable TV news provider’s YouTube channel, in a move that is likely to stir debate over the conditions of his medical parole. Chen was granted medical parole on Jan. 5, 2015, after serving over six years of a 20-year sentence, a consolidated term stemming from multiple corruption-related convictions involving actions during his two terms as president from 2000-2008. Former president Chen Shui-bian is pictured in an undated photograph. The Taichung Prison said yesterday that it has issued an official letter warning Chen to strictly abide by the regulations governing medical parole, one of which involves not being engaging in political activities. Prior to being granted parole, Chen received treatment at a hospital affiliated with the prison.

Flights and shipping affected by Chinese drillsTrips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes andBy Shelley Shan

Missile mass production to commence in Q2: officialBy Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan is to commence mass production of the Tien Kung (天弓, “Sky Bow”) III, IV and V missiles by the second quarter of this year if the legislature approves the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.78 billion) special defense budget, an official said yesterday. The Tien Kung III is an air defense missile with a maximum interception altitude of 35km. A model of the Tien Kung IV missile is pictured in an undated photograph. The Tien Kung IV and V systems respectively have maximum interception altitudes of 70km and 100km, the official said. The Tien Kung V missile is being prepared to enter initial operational assessment after completing live-fire tests in the fourth quarter last year, they said.

Chen Chien-jen to serve as Academia Sinica headStaff writer, with CNAThe Presidential Office yesterday announced the appointment of former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) as the next Academia Sinica president, serving a five-year term from June 21, 2026 to June 20, 2031. Former vice president Chen Chien-jen is pictured in an undated photograph. He also served as the vice president from 2016 to 2020 and as premier from 2023 to 2024. Founded in 1928, Academia Sinica has earned a reputation for being Taiwan’s top national academic institution. It currently has 24 institutes and nine research centers located in three research sections: the Mathematics and Physical Sciences Division, Life Sciences Division, and Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Younghwaru: Korean-style Chinese food in TaiwanServing diaspora upon diaspora here in Taipei, this gritty student spot features jammy noodles, spicy soups and some seriously good Korean fried chickenBy Hollie Younger / Staff reporterDown in Taipei’s student hub surrounding National Taiwan University (NTU), cheap and filling eats are a dime a dozen. Photo: Hollie YoungerServing Korean-style Chinese food, the original restaurant opened in Seoul in the 1970s, and the owner’s daughter brought a branch to Taipei just a few years ago. The Korean fried chicken. That said, we’ve already opted for a heaping pile of their Chinese-style Korean Fried Chicken (NT$460), or kkanpunggi. But sometimes an outrageously sized and outrageously well-priced plate of Korean fried chicken is just the thing on a chilly December evening.

Premier League begins year with goal-shy drawsAFP, LONDONManchester City FC trail Arsenal FC by four points at the top of the Premier League after failing to end Sunderland AFC’s unbeaten home record in a 0-0 draw on Thursday, while Liverpool FC were also held by Leeds United FC. City had won eight consecutive games to end last year and cut the gap on the Gunners to just two points. Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol, center, leaps for the ball against Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida, right, in Sunderland, England, on Thursday. “It’s a mystery,” City manager Pep Guardiola said on his side’s inability to score. Crystal Palace FC manager Oliver Glasner said his depleted side are in “survival mode” after a 1-1 draw against Fulham FC extended their winless run to six games.

Taiwan secure Premier12 2027 spotEXPANSION: Next year’s tournament is to grow from 12 participants to 16 for the first time, with the four additional slots to be filled in two qualification tournamentsStaff writer, with CNATaiwan, the defending champions of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, have secured a spot in next year’s Premier12 tournament following the release of the latest official world rankings. Taiwan ranked second in the standings updated by the WBSC on Wednesday. Taiwan had 5,112 points, second only to Japan (6,676 points), and followed by the US, South Korea and Venezuela. Team Taiwan celebrate with the trophy after winning the WBSC Premier12 baseball tournament in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2024. The WBSC said it would announce details regarding the second qualification tournament at a later date.

Kim Ju-ae’s mausoleum visit fuels succession talkAFP, SEOULNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, has made her first public visit to a mausoleum housing her grandfather and great-grandfather, state media images showed yesterday, further solidifying her place as likely next in line to run the nuclear-armed dictatorship. Kim Jong-un is the third in line to rule in the world’s only communist monarchy, following his father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim Il-sung. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, front, third right, and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, center, visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark the new year in Pyongyang in a picture released by state media yesterday. It could be “interpreted as reporting to the ‘eternal leaders’ Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il that she is being presented as his successor,” he said. On Thursday, footage showed Ju-ae accompanying her parents at New Year celebrations in Pyongyang.