Drills signaling China-Russia cooperation: academicsStaff writer, with CNAThe military exercises China launched yesterday have many purposes, including cognitive warfare against Taiwan, countering US-Japan military cooperation and the showcasing of coordination with Russia, an academic said yesterday. The drills were in part conducted in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on a potential “Taiwan contingency,” as well as Tokyo’s increasingly close military cooperation with the US, Lin said. People walk by a giant screen in Beijing yesterday during a broadcast of news on China’s military drills around Taiwan. Photo: ReutersLast month, Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan would constitute a threat to Japan’s survival and could warrant a military response from Tokyo, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing. The Guardian yesterday quoted analysts as saying that it was the first time the PLA had explicitly said it was practicing deterring international involvement.

CDC to expand HIV treatment coverage for foreignersStaff writer, with CNAThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said it is planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals next year, but has not revealed details of the plan. CDC Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) on Monday last week said that subsidy regulations are being revised and eligibility for publicly funded treatment for foreign residents would be expanded. Lo at the time said the expansion would initially prioritize foreign nationals holding permanent residency and those younger than 18, but he offered no other details. As of late last month, 36,494 Taiwanese nationals and 615 foreign nationals in Taiwan were HIV-positive, the CDC said on Friday last week. The adult pneumococcal vaccine program would be launched on Jan. 15 next year.

Older adults may struggle to learn a new language, but it’s still worthwhileBy Stephen Wade / AP, TOKYOI speak decent Spanish, picked up working several decades ago as a news and sports reporter in Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Older people might have foggier memories, but learning a language still helps to work the mind. She said there have been several efforts to examine language learning in older adults and the ramifications. LEARNING A LANGUAGE LATE IN LIFEI visited Spain’s Mediterranean coast in the 1990s when I worked in Madrid. “But the experience of trying to learn the language is good for your brain.

Nvidia, Lenovo and Samsung to test consumer appetite for AI at CESBloombergAt the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week, the biggest names in tech, including Nvidia Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Samsung Electronics Co and Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想), will make the case for artificial intelligence (AI). CES, which runs from Jan. 6-9, is where many tech companies unveil their wares for the year. The CES logo is displayed as attendees enter an exhibit hall during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7. It’s a similar story for Snap, which isn’t likely to choose this venue to announce pricing and availability for its forthcoming “Specs” glasses. Companion robots will be a common sight as well, including products like the Jennie robot dog from Tombot Inc, a California-based start-up focused on developing products for aging adults and people living with dementia.

TEWC expecting higher growth on Taipower ordersBy Meryl Kao / Staff ReporterTa Tun Electric Wire and Cable Co (TEWC, 大東電業) yesterday said it is targeting double-digit revenue growth next year, supported by Taiwan Power Co’s (Taipower, 台電) orders that aim to enhance power grid resilience. Taipower is expected to invest up to NT$564.5 billion (US$17.9 billion) over a decade to upgrade the power grid, with projects covering distributed infrastructure, grid hardening, and infrastructure resilience and protection, TEWC chairman Jimmy Lin (林志明) said. The company has unfulfilled orders totaling NT$12 billion, most of which are from Taipower, with order visibility extending through 2028, Lin said, adding that EHV cables accounted for more than 60 percent of orders. TEWC produces power cables, electric wires and specialty cables used in power transmission and distribution, infrastructure projects and industrial applications. As shipments of higher-margin products — mainly 345kV cables — are expected to normalize this quarter, gross margin is expected to improve, it said.

Nvidia reaches tech deal with GroqAI TALENT: No financial details were released about the deal, in which top Groq executives, including its CEO, would join Nvidia to help advance the technology Nvidia Corp has agreed to a licensing deal with artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Groq, furthering its investments in companies connected to the AI boom and gaining the right to add a new type of technology to its products. The world’s largest publicly traded company has paid for the right to use Groq’s technology and is to integrate its chip design into future products. Some of the start-up’s executives are leaving to join Nvidia to help with that effort, the companies said. Groq would continue as an independent company with a new chief executive, it said on Wednesday in a post on its Web

Coupang announces data leak compensationReuters, SEOULSouth Korean e-commerce company Coupang Inc yesterday announced a compensation deal worth 1.69 trillion won (US$1.18 billion) to the holders of 33.7 million accounts for a massive data leak that triggered a backlash from users and lawmakers. Customers would get company vouchers worth 50,000 won each, Coupang said. The plan comes a day after Coupang founder Kim Beom-seok issued his first public apology for last month’s data breach and pledged to expedite compensation measures. Photo: BloombergCriticism has mounted over Coupang’s decision to provide compensation in the form of vouchers that could only be used on its own services and platforms. Asked about public criticism of its compensation plan, Coupang said it had no further comment.

China’s BYD Co poised to overtake Tesla in EV salesPOTENTIAL demand: Tesla’s chance of reclaiming its leadership in EVs seems uncertain, but breakthrough in full self-driving could help boost sales, an analyst saidAFP, NEW YORKChinese auto giant BYD Co (比亞迪) is poised to surpass Tesla Inc as the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) company in annual sales. As of the end of last month, BYD, which also produces hybrid vehicles, had sold 2.07 million EVs. Deutsche Bank AG, which projects just 405,000 Tesla EV sales during the fourth quarter, sees the company’s sales down by about one-third in North America and Europe, and by one-tenth in China. Tesla has also faced rising EV competition from BYD and other Chinese companies, and from European giants. Former US president Joe Biden imposed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EV imports, which could potentially go up under Trump.

DPP and KMT both condemn the other’s stance on exerciseStaff writer, with CNAAs Beijing began a military exercise around Taiwan yesterday, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) condemned each other’s approach toward the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began an exercise called “Justice Mission 2025” yesterday in the Taiwan Strait and seas to Taiwan’s north, southwest, southeast and east. The PLA said it would conduct live-fire drills today from 8am to 6pm in five designated maritime and airspace zones around Taiwan. Photo: EPAThe exercise triggered recriminations by the DPP and KMT against each other. The TPP urged Beijing to halt actions that undermined stability in the Taiwan Strait and act responsibly to maintain regional peace.

Supreme Court upholds ex-city councilor’s sentenceStaff writer, with CNAThe Supreme Court last week rejected an appeal by former New Taipei City councilor Chen Ko-ming (陳科名), upholding his sentence of 10 years and eight months in prison on bribery charges. The courts determined that Chen illegally obtained NT$13.07 million (US$415,580) through the scheme, in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Prosecutors said they concluded that Chen received more than NT$17.17 million in bribes and other improper benefits. The Taiwan High Court upheld the original verdict, and the Supreme Court on Tuesday last week dismissed further appeals, making the judgement final. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for Tsai.

YouTube doctor fake: groupBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterA self-styled “doctor” sharing health-related content on YouTube is likely an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated character, Taiwan FactCheck Center said, while two Taipei hospitals confirmed that no such doctor works for them. “Doctor Chen Chi-ming” (陳志明醫師) had posted several videos sharing health-related content, mainly healthcare tips for middle-aged and elderly people. The channel, which is no longer listed on YouTube, had more than 23,000 subscribers at one point, with one video receiving 150,000 views. A screen grab from the YouTube channel of “Doctor Chen Chi-ming” is pictured on Sunday. The hospitals confirmed that no “Doctor Chen Chi-ming” works at their hospitals, and that his claim about a “breakthrough therapy” for diabetes does not exist, it said.

Enrollment falls below 60% at 6 collegesPRECARIOUS: Low freshman enrollment rates not only put colleges’ finances and academics at risk, but also could put them at risk of closing down, a source saidBy Rachel Lin and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writerSix colleges reported an enrollment rate of less than 60 percent this year, following years of low birthrates, data released yesterday by the Ministry of Education showed. The release of this year’s freshman enrollment rates at colleges and universities comes as education experts expressed concern over higher education enrollment. Freshman enrollment rates are also an important indicator in determining if the ministry should open discussions on possible school closure, they said. The ministry would continue to monitor enrollment rates and education quality to ensure students’ rights and welfare are protected, it said. Enrollment rates for starting master’s degrees or doctoral programs were also declining, with 54 colleges or universities reporting zero enrollment this year.

Bondi victims’ families demand probe‘CRISIS’? Albanese last week said that a New South Wales-led royal commission — where the shooting occurred — would suffice and promised full support. Our loved ones were celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach, a festival of light and joy, in an iconic public space that should have been safe,” the letter said. But with a well-led Commonwealth Royal Commission and strong action, you may be able to save many more,” they said. The call for a royal commission echoes voices in the broader Jewish community, legal experts and other politicians.

Chinese monument near Panama Canal torn downAFP, PANAMA CITYNear the entrance to the Panama Canal, a monument to China’s contributions to the interoceanic waterway was torn down on Saturday night by order of local authorities. In a surprising move that has been criticized by leaders in Panama and China, the mayor’s office of the locality of Arraijan ordered the demolition of the monument built in 2004 to symbolize friendship between the countries. People pose for a photograph near the original site of a removed Chinese monument in Panama City on Sunday. The US and China are the main users of the 80km canal, which sees the passage of 5 percent of global maritime trade. The Panama Canal was under US control from 1914 to 1999, when it was taken over by Panama.

Nine killed as Turkish police raid alleged IS houseAP, ANKARAIslamic State (IS) militants yesterday clashed with police in northwest Turkey, leaving three police officers and six militants dead, the Turkish minister of the interior said. The shooting occurred in Elmali district in Yalova, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants were hiding. Turkish gendarmerie special forces leave the site where Turkish security forces launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected Islamic State militants in Yalova, Turkey, yesterday. The operation in Yalova was carried out with “great care,” because women and children were inside the house where the militants were located, he said. Meanwhile, the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation, assigning five prosecutors to lead the probe, Turkish Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc said on social media.