How a baseball game in Japan is testing China on TaiwanBy Karishma Vaswani / Bloomberg OpinionA weekend appearance by Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) at Tokyo Dome, where he cheered on his nation’s team at the World Baseball Classic, has created a geopolitical storm. It is a signal that Tokyo and Taipei are testing how much Beijing can practically control their engagement. The visit was no major diplomatic breakthrough between Japan and Taiwan, but neither was it simply a baseball game. The nation is typically required to compete internationally under the name “Chinese Taipei,” as it is not diplomatically recognized by most countries. Japan still maintains the “one China” policy (where the US and other nations recognize, and have formal ties with, China rather than Taiwan), while holding private and regional exchanges with Taiwan.

Canada advance at WBCAPCanada on Wednesday advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 in a winner-take-all game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro’s homer and Otto Lopez’s two-run single. Canada’s Abraham Toro rounds the bases after hitting a one-run home run against Cuba during their World Baseball Classic game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday. Italy players celebrate after their win against Mexico at the World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday. Mexico (2-2) were eliminated from the WBC and from qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The US stay in Houston, Texas, to meet Canada today, while Italy face Puerto Rico in the other quarter-final at the city’s Daikin Park tomorrow.

North Korea vow no more protestsAFP, PERTH, AustraliaNorth Korea yesterday pledged that there would be no more sideline protests during their Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final against Australia after causing a stir against China. An incensed North Korea refused to play for several minutes in their 2-1 loss to China during a group game on Monday. North Korea coach Ri Song-ho, left, gestures as he engages with match officials during their AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against China at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Monday. Australia’s Sam Kerr is the only player left from the match, with North Korea now boasting a young and physical side. They are looking to build on defending their Women’s U17 World Cup title in Morocco last year and winning the U20 World Cup in Colombia in 2024.

Real Madrid batter Manchester CityCHELSEA TROUNCED: Despite there being six English teams in the last 16, none of them won on Wednesday and only two avoided defeat, with PSG beating ChelseaAFP, PARISFederico Valverde on Wednesday scored an unlikely hat-trick as Real Madrid trounced Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, while holders Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2. Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde celebrates after scoring during their UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City at Estadio Bernabeu in Madrid on Wednesday. Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, front, left, scores past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, second right, during their UEFA Champions League match at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scores from the penalty spot during their UEFA Champions League match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Wednesday. Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh, right, heads the ball as Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva defends during their UEFA Champions League match at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo, Norway, on Wednesday.

Taiwan catcher Lyle Lin signs with Japan’s Nippon-Ham FightersStaff writer, with CNATaiwan catcher Lyle Lin has signed a contract with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s professional baseball league, becoming the third Taiwanese player on the Hokkaido-based team. However, the Nippon-Ham Fighters in a statement yesterday announced that they had bought out Lin’s contract and that he would join the team wearing No. Taiwan catcher Lyle Lin is pictured ahead of their WBC game against Australia at the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday last week. “I’ll continue to absorb knowledge and skills so that I can have the opportunity to give back to my home, Taiwan,” Lin wrote. In signing with the Fighters, Lin is to join pitchers Gu Lin Ruei-yang and Sun Yi-lei as the team’s third Taiwanese player.

US’ reprieve will not matter due to lack of intensityBy David Brown / ReutersThanks to Italy beating Mexico on Wednesday, the US get another chance in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The team’s attitude and behavior have been all over the place when it comes to their opinion of the WBC’s value. The US’ Bobby Witt Jr rounds the bases during their World Baseball Classic game against Italy at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. All of them have something in common not shared with the US: They play with intensity and joy. The best way would be to move the tournament to mid-summer, during a break in MLB’s regular season that does not exist yet and likely will not soon.

Iran official says no to his nation at soccer World CupReutersIranian Minister of Sport Ahmad Donyamali on Wednesday said that Iran would not take part in the FIFA World Cup being cohosted by the US, the clearest indication yet of the potential for a first withdrawal from global soccer’s showpiece event in the modern era. While that has not officially happened, minds at FIFA must now address more urgently the prospect of having to replace Iran in the tournament that is to start in the US, Mexico and Canada in early June. Donyamali said it would be impossible for Iran to take part after air attacks launched by the US and Israel on Feb. 28 killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a region-wide conflict. The FIFA logo is seen outside FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 25, 2015. Photo: APWhile it always seemed counterintuitive that Iran would take part in a World Cup while at war with one of the cohosts, FIFA on Tuesday were still clearly banking on them lining up for their first group game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

The bright white walls of A Book House stand out brilliantly at dusk. Sue Yang welcomes visitors at the front door of A Book House. All his knowledge came from a Japanese book on wooden construction that he happened across, a book that he could not even read properly. From this feat comes the name they have chosen for their home, “A Book House” (一冊大木家屋). MEETING THE MASTERDespite being in his 70s, Master Yang is full of enthusiasm for his craft and modesty about his achievements.

What’s behind Japan’s ‘bumping’ trend? A video grab from YouTube on Feb. 25 shows a woman “bumping” a Taiwanese girl in Tokyo. Other incidents were reported around Tamachi station in Tokyo, including a woman struck so hard she suffered broken ribs. It’s not just men doing the bumping, although anecdotally they are more likely to be perpetrators. Bumping is a “reflection of modern society,” Kiryu Masayuki, a sociology professor at Toyo University who specializes in criminal psychology, told toyokeizai.net last year.

First, she’s a penniless former prison inmate who has returned to her small town of Laramie, Wisconsin, where she’s hooking up with her former boyfriend’s best friend. Second, that boyfriend is dead and she’s been blamed, hence the prison sentence. Maika Monroe, left, and Tyriq Withers in a scene from Reminders of Him. After seven years in prison, Kenna walks into a fraught situation. Falling in love with the lady accused of killing your best friend may not be the wisest thing to do, but there you go.

In China, many laud Gu for identifying herself as Chinese and competing for the honor of the motherland. Alysa Liu of US on Feb. 22 performs during the Exhibition Gala. Video clips of her eating Chinese snacks went viral on social media. That year, Alysa Liu placed sixth in women’s single skating. “In a world of Eileen Gu,” the artist wrote, “be Alysa Liu.”

CTBC cautiously optimistic about profit this yearBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterCTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金控) yesterday said it is cautiously optimistic about profit growth this year, citing resilient economic conditions and improving business momentum after posting record earnings last year. Cumulative net profit for the first two months of this year was NT$15.53 billion (US$487.67 million), or earnings per share (EPS) of NT$0.80, company data showed. CTBC Financial Holding Co president Rachael Kao attends a company earnings conference in Taipei yesterday. Last year, CTBC Financial’s net profit was a record high NT$80.6 billion, or EPS of NT$4.08, providing a 16.9 percent return on equity, the best among Taiwan’s financial holding firms. Taiwan Life Insurance Co (台灣人壽), the group’s main insurance arm, posted net profit of NT$20.8 billion last year, down 3 percent from 2024, it said.

US mulls regulatory framework for AI chip exportsRATIONING: The proposal would give the Trump administration ample leverage to negotiate investments in the US as it decides how many chips to give each country US officials are debating a new regulatory framework for exporting artificial intelligence (AI) chips and are considering requiring foreign nations to invest in US AI data centers or security guarantees as a condition for granting exports of 200,000 chips or more, according to a document seen by Reuters. The rules are not yet final and could change. They would be the first attempt to regulate the flow of AI chips to US allies and partners since US President Donald Trump’s administration said it rescinded its predecessor’s so-called AI diffusion rules. Those rules sought to keep a significant amount of AI

Traffic deaths fell 3.1% last year, but missed 7% targetTRAFFIC DATA: The most common accidents involved single-vehicle crashes, and Kaohsiung saw the highest number of traffic-related deaths at 307 people last yearBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe nation last year failed to meet its annual goal of reducing traffic-related deaths by 7 percent, despite an overall downward trend, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPAThe Cabinet had aimed to reduce traffic-related deaths last year by 15 percent compared with 2023. Ministry data showed a downward trend in traffic-related deaths involving motorcycle riders, older people, drunk drivers, pedestrians and minors, Chen said. “The most common types of traffic accidents were single-vehicle crashes, such as self-skidding and collisions with objects. Kaohsiung topped other cities and counties with 307 people killed in traffic accidents last year, despite a decrease compared with 2024.

India plans new fund to back domestic chipmakingBloombergIndia plans to unveil a more than 1 trillion rupee (US$10.8 billion) fund aimed at bolstering domestic chipmaking, advancing its bid to become a global manufacturing hub. People visit the Bengaluru Tech Summit at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre in India on Nov. 18 last year. Photo: EPAIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to accelerate India’s chip campaign, which is in early stages with just a handful of major projects under way. India’s push, although smaller in scale, is similar to the US$52 billion US Chips and Science Act that funds local chipmaking capacity. The 2040 target compares with sales of about ￥5 trillion in 2020, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry data showed.