Many people have begun using electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils while sleeping, as the weather is warming up and mosquitoes are becoming more common, it said. The effect of applying electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils depends on whether the space is ventilated, which would require different solutions, the ministry said. Electric mosquito repellent liquids and mosquito coils work by using electricity or fire to volatilize the repellent, it said. Therefore, electric mosquito repellent liquid or mosquito coils should be placed at a upwind side, or the entrance or entryway of a space to repel mosquitoes, it added. The ministry also urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they experience shortness of breath or dizziness while using mosquito repellent.

Lai urges more support for womenStaff writer, with CNAPresident William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said Taiwan could become “more powerful” if women are given more support and choice in society. “When a society is willing to give women more support and room for choices, Taiwan will not only become kinder, but also more powerful,” Lai said in a post on social marking International Women’s Day. The change is intended to make political participation “more fair” and allow more women to demonstrate their expertise and influence, he added. The government has also promulgated the nation’s first national action plan on gender-based violence prevention, Lai said. Lai said he believes “when more women can freely flourish, this strength will allow Taiwan to go further.”Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday wrote on social media that women can “shine” in fields where they are most skilled.

Former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto gestures during an interview with the Liberty Times in Tokyo in an undated photograph. If the US conducts operations around Taiwan, Japan could provide support and cooperation, such as maritime transport, patrol and surveillance missions, protection of undersea cables and logistical supply operations, he said. Seoul would likely not be a highly reliable source of help in case of a Taiwan contingency, he added. One possibility is that the purge could consolidate Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) power and make it easier for him to resort to military action against Taiwan, he said. Documents disclosed online showed that Xi had considered invading Taiwan after the CCP’s third plenary session in 2024, he said.

Taipei 101 lights up blue as tribute to fallen policeStaff writer, with CNATaipei 101, Taiwan’s iconic skyscraper, lit up in blue on Saturday evening to honor police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, as part of a global tribute initiated by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). From 6pm to 10pm on Saturday, the exterior of Taipei 101 lit up in blue and displayed messages in Chinese and English honoring police officers who lost their lives while protecting the public and upholding the rule of law. Taipei 101 is lit up in blue on Saturday with a message honoring fallen police officers. The headquarters of the National Police Agency in Taipei is lit up in blue on Saturday as part of a global tribute to fallen police officers. Photo copied by Chiu Chun-fu, Taipei TimesThe NPA’s headquarters, the Criminal Investigation Bureau building and police stations across Taiwan were also lit up in blue.

Taiwan fans roar for their team at WBCLOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with

Traditionally, when relations between Japan and China deteriorate, Tokyo has tended to scale back visible engagement with Taiwan to avoid provoking Beijing. Cho’s visit might indicate those diplomatic “unwritten rules” may be shifting under the Takaichi administration. Allowing a sitting Taiwanese premier to visit Japan — even if framed as a private baseball outing — risks inflaming tensions. Despite continued Chinese pressure and ongoing tensions between Tokyo and Beijing,Japan was still willing to facilitate Cho’s visit, Wang said. Through sustained diplomatic engagement, Taiwan’s senior officials can visit Japan in a private capacity, he said.

Driver’s license test changes announcedUPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff Reporter, with CNADriver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. A testing site for the Highway Bureau’s revised driving portion of the driver’s license test is pictured in an undated photograph. Since Jan. 30, the written test for a motorcycle driving license has consisted entirely of 50 multiple-choice questions, with no true-or-false items. There are 216 small-vehicle driving schools and 36 large-vehicle driving schools across Taiwan, bureau statistics showed. Last year, 243,000 people took the small-vehicle driving test, and 16,000 took the large-vehicle driving test, the bureau said.

Weather act revisions to curb sensationalist reportingBy Wu Liang-yi and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) announced amendments to the Meteorological Act (氣象法) aimed at curbing sensationalism in media reporting to ensure the accuracy of public information. The red line represents Taipei and Yilan, the green line is for Hualien and Taitung, the blue line is for central Taiwan, and the yellow line is for southern Taiwan. Photo provided by the Central Weather AdministrationSome media outlets cite weather forecasts posted by anonymous online fan pages or social media accounts with unclear sources, the CWA said. Central Taiwan might also experience sporadic showers tomorrow. On Thursday and Friday, the mercury could hover between 14°C to 20°C in northern Taiwan, 13°C to 24°C in central Taiwan and 17°C to 28°C in southern Taiwan, according to CWA data.

Defense budget reasonable: LaiWOLF AT THE DOOR: The proposed special defense budget is reasonable, even modest compared to countries like Japan or South Korea’s annual defense budgetsBy Huang Cheng-chia, Li Wen-hsin and William Hetherington / Staff reporters, with staff writerThe Executive Yuan’s proposal to allocate NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.3 billion) for defense over eight years is reasonable, especially compared with the defense budgets of Japan and South Korea, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Speaking during a visit to Jieyun Temple (接雲寺) in New Taipei City, Lai compared increased defense spending to installing security systems at home to prevent burglaries. With a “bad neighbor” like China, strengthening national defense is essential, he said, calling on the public to unite in safeguarding national security. The Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee is widely seen by the ruling and opposition camps as a key battleground, as it reviews issues related to US-Taiwan tariffs and the proposed special defense budget. During the previous four legislative sessions, the committee comprised six DPP lawmakers, five KMT lawmakers and one TPP lawmaker.

Court orders pair to pay woman’s ex-spouse NT$100,000By Lin Chia-tung and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe New Taipei District Court ordered a man and a woman to pay the woman’s former husband NT$100,000 in compensation for “exceeding the boundaries of normal interactions between men and women,” sparking discussion about judicial standards regarding spousal rights. The woman and her former husband had been married for about 10 years before they divorced in March last year. It ruled that A-yung and the ex-wife must jointly pay the woman’s former husband NT$100,000 in compensation. Finally, they would consider the evidence, and although the defendants said the photo was obtained illegally, photos taken in public places are usually considered valid evidence, Ho said. Some courts have recently challenged traditional interpretations and said that spousal rights are not fundamental, constitutionally protected rights, he added.

Japanese-style Mazu float headlines parade at Taiwan Lantern FestivalStaff writer, with CNAA Japanese-style lantern float featuring Taiwan’s favorite sea goddess Mazu headlined the Team Taiwan baseball parade at the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County Saturday evening. The mega-size art piece was a Japanese Nebuta, a traditional lantern float handmade from wood, metal wire, and paper. A Japanese-style Mazu float is pictured at the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County on Saturday. Photo: Wang Shan-yan, Taipei TimesThe Taiwan Lantern Festival float spotlighted Mazu in the center, secured by her famous ogre guardians to her left and right. Both Nebuta artists frequented the county’s Puzi Peitian Temple to get inspirations for the deities they sculpted for the annual lantern festival.

Semiconductor shortage possible, Beijing saysReuters, BEIJINGThe Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Saturday raised the possibility of another global semiconductor supply chain crisis due to “new conflicts” between Dutch chipmaker Nexperia BV and its Chinese subsidiary. “Nexperia Netherlands has seriously disrupted the company’s normal production and operation, and if this triggers a global semiconductor production and supply chain crisis again, the Netherlands must bear full responsibility for this,” it added. Nexperia’s Chinese subsidiary responded to the removal of Wingtech’s control in September last year by declaring itself independent of its Dutch parent. Both entities have since traded accusations of bad-faith negotiating, while the Dutch headquarters has suspended wafer supply to the Guangdong plant. Beijing has accused The Hague of not doing enough to force compromise from Nexperia’s Netherlands headquarters, or end court proceedings in Amsterdam that transferred Wingtech’s shares to a Dutch lawyer in October.

TAIFEX strengthens commitment to gender equality through global initiativeStaff writerTo celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, Taiwan Futures Exchange (TAIFEX) once again joined the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative. The “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” campaign is a collaborative effort by the WFE in partnership with several international organizations, including UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges, UN Global Compact and UN Women. This year, more than 110 exchanges and clearinghouses worldwide participated, underscoring the capital markets’ ongoing focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Photo courtesy of Taiwan Futures ExchangeBeyond workplace, TAIFEX promotes gender equality through community engagement, including its continued support for the “Young Women’s Independent Living Program,” which assists young women from disadvantaged families. As Taiwan remains among Asia’s leaders in gender equality, TAIFEX will continue to leverage its role by working alongside market participants to foster a more inclusive and sustainable financial marketplace and advance long-term progress toward gender equality.

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

Venezuela frees more political prisoners under new lawAFP, CARACASVenezuela on Saturday released 17 political prisoners from a jail in the capital, Caracas, as a new law granted amnesty for crimes historically used to lock up dissidents. The non-governmental organization Foro Penal said that more than 621 political prisoners have been released since Maduro’s ouster, but about 500 remain behind bars. However, unlike prisoners from other jails who had their cases dismissed, Zone 7 detainees must appear in court to reinstate their full freedom. “We will continue seeking improvement and freedom for the other political prisoners,” said Brayan Orozco, son of former Venezuelan lawmaker Fernando Orozco, both of whom were released from Zone 7. “Thanks to the people of Venezuela,” Brayan Orozco said, amid cries of “freedom, freedom,” hugs and tears of joy.