No clear path to ending partial US shutdown
No clear path to ending partial US shutdownAP, WEST PALM BEACH, FloridaLawmakers and the White House on Sunday offered no signs of compromise in their battle over oversight of federal immigration officers that has led to a pause in funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A partial government shutdown began on Saturday after congressional Democrats and US President Donald Trump’s team failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund the department through September. Democrats are demanding changes to how immigration operations are conducted after the fatal shootings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month. People walk near the entrance to the US Homeland Security Department in Washington on Sunday. About 90 percent of DHS employees were to continue working during the shutdown, but do so without pay — and missed paychecks could mean financial hardships.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
Accused Bondi Beach killer Naveed Akram appears in court by video link
Accused Bondi Beach killer Naveed Akram appears in court by video linkAFP, SYDNEYAccused Bondi Beach killer Naveed Akram yesterday appeared in an Australian court via video link, in his first public hearing since the nation’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades. A court sketch depicts accused Bondi shooter Naveed Akram appearing via video link from Goulburn Supermax prison, at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney yesterday. Photo: APHe appeared in a Sydney court for about five minutes via video link from prison, according to a statement from the court and local media. A few weeks before the Bondi Beach attack, the pair returned to Sydney from a four-week trip to the southern Philippines. They also made a nighttime reconnaissance trip to Bondi Beach just days before the killings, documents showed.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
USA Stars win All-Star Final
USA Stars win All-Star FinalNEW FORMAT: Instead of the usual two-team event, NBA stars played four 12-minute games between two US sides and a World group of global talentAFP, LOS ANGELESAnthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey on Sunday sparked the USA Stars over USA Stripes 47-21 in the final of the 75th NBA All-Star Game tournament. “We chose to compete today and we came out on top,” said Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard who won the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award. Anthony Edwards of USA Stars, left, goes to the basket against the USA Stripes in the 75th All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Sunday. “I know a lot of people have been concerned about the All-Star Game, not seeing as much effort. “We were going to compete every single possession.”Game 2 saw more drama when De’Aaron Fox sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to give USA Stripes a 42-40 triumph over USA Stars.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
ByteDance curbs IP use after Disney warning
Photo: EPAHowever, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance accusing the Chinese firm of using Disney characters to train and power Seedance 2.0 without permission, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters late on Sunday. Disney said ByteDance had pre-packaged Seedance with a pirated library of copyrighted characters from franchises including Star Wars and Marvel, portraying them as if they were public-domain clip art, the person said. “We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users,” ByteDance said in its statement. Paramount Skydance Corp has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing the Chinese firm of engaging in “blatant infringement” of its intellectual property, Variety reported over the weekend. Disney has taken similar actions against Character.AI, demanding that the start-up immediately stop the unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
OpenAI hires maker of ‘OpenClaw’ real-world agent for AI
OpenAI hires maker of ‘OpenClaw’ real-world agent for AIAFP, WASHINGTONOpenAI has hired the Austrian creator of OpenClaw, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool able to execute real-world tasks, the US start-up’s head Sam Altman said on Sunday. AI agent tool OpenClaw has fascinated — and spooked — the tech world since researcher Peter Steinberger built it in November last year to help organize his digital life. A Reddit-like pseudo social network for OpenClaw agents called Moltbook, where chatbots converse, has also grabbed headlines and provoked soul-searching over AI. Steinberger “is joining OpenAI to drive the next generation of personal agents,” Altman wrote in an X post. “We expect this will quickly become core to our product offerings,” Altman wrote, saying that OpenClaw would remain an open-source project within a foundation supported by OpenAI.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
Swiss economy rebounds after Trump tariff shock
Swiss economy rebounds after Trump tariff shockBloombergSwitzerland’s economy rebounded at the end of last year, partially shaking off the impact of outsized tariffs inflicted by US President Donald Trump. “Growth in the services sector was muted, while the industrial sector stagnated,” the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said in a statement on yesterday. Photo: EPAThe reading suggests resilience in the Swiss economy after the initial shock of Trump’s 39 percent tariff in August last year drove its biggest contraction since the COVID-19 pandemic. The GDP report excludes data from large sport events, because they can distort the overall picture of the country’s economy. A final growth reading along with further details on its drivers are to be published on Feb. 27.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
Japan protests China comments on reviving militarism
Japan protests China comments on reviving militarismBloomberg and AFP, TOKYOTokyo has lodged a protest with China over remarks by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) that “far-right forces” in Japan were seeking to revive militarism, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said yesterday. Photo: AFPAfter Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi on Saturday said that Wang’s comment “was not based on facts,” his ministry followed up with a social media post on Sunday reinforcing his view. In his response to Wang’s comments, Motegi denied that Japan had any militaristic intentions. Japan’s foreign ministry post also reiterated Japan’s position that the issue of Taiwan should not be resolved by force. China has introduced some curbs on exports to Japan and warned its citizens against traveling to its neighbor as part of its campaign to put pressure on Takaichi to retract her Taiwan remarks.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
Heralds of spring
Lunar eclipse to coincide with the Lantern FestivalA total lunar eclipse coinciding with the Lantern Festival on March 3 would be Taiwan’s most notable celestial event this year, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said, urging skywatchers not to miss it. There would be four eclipses worldwide this year — two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses — the museum’s Web site says. Taiwan would be able to observe one of the lunar eclipses in its entirety on March 3. The eclipse would be visible as the moon rises at 5:50pm, already partly shaded by the Earth’s shadow, the museum said. It would peak at about 7:30pm, when the moon would
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
TaiDoc faces strike after union dismissals
TaiDoc faces strike after union dismissalsFOURTH PROTEST: A labor rights advocate said the medical device maker dismissed all union officials the day after the union’s protest last week over the firing of its chairStaff writer, with CNAThe union at TaiDoc Technology Corp (泰博科技) said yesterday that it will launch a strike campaign to press the medical device maker to meet its demands, including reinstating dismissed union officials. Union members and labor groups chanted slogans during a protest outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei yesterday morning. Migrant worker members of the TaiDoc Technology Corp union join coworkers at a protest outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei yesterday. Basas and the six dismissed officials are staying at a shelter run by the labor rights NGO Serve the People Association. TaiDoc later said it would not respond to the union’s protest or demands.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC
Napoli remain third after late Alisson Santos goal earns 2-2 draw with Roma
Napoli remain third after late Alisson Santos goal earns 2-2 draw with RomaReuters, NAPLES, ItalySSC Napoli debutant Alisson Santos on Sunday scored a late equalizer as the Serie A champions snatched a 2-2 home draw against AS Roma to keep them third in the Serie A standings and maintain their unbeaten home record in the league this season. The visitors looked on course to dislodge their hosts as striker Donyell Malen continued his scoring spree since arriving in Serie A with a brace. AS Roma’s Donyell Malen successfully converts a penalty against SSC Napoli in their Serie A match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, on Sunday. Spinazzola’s equalizer came as Napoli were probing for an opening on the edge of the Roma penalty area. SSC Napoli’s Alisson Santos, front, celebrates scoring against AS Roma in their Serie A match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, on Sunday.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 16:26 UTC
Rayo rout Atleti as Real Betis cut gap to four points
Rayo rout Atleti as Real Betis cut gap to four pointsAFP, MADRIDRayo Vallecano on Sunday waltzed to a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in La Liga, leaving Diego Simeone’s side 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid. Atletico dropped to fourth after their heavy defeat at CD Leganes’ Estadio Ontime Butarque, where Rayo hosted the fixture due to pitch problems at their own Estadio de Vallecas. Real Betis Balompie, fifth, were able to cut the gap to Atletico down to four points with a 2-1 win at RCD Mallorca. Atletico Madrid’s Nico Gonzalez, top left, vies for the ball with Rayo Vallecano’s Randy Nteka, top right, in their La Liga match at the Estadio Ontime Butarque in Leganes, Spain, on Sunday. “This is a battle-hardened team that adapts well to circumstances,” Rayo coach Inigo Perez said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 16:26 UTC
Late Brajan Gruda strike rescues a point for Leipzig
Late Brajan Gruda strike rescues a point for LeipzigAFP, LEIPZIG, GermanyAn excellent late strike from Brajan Gruda on Sunday snatched RB Leipzig a 2-2 draw at home to VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig’s Conrad Harder, center, attempts an overhead-kick against VfL Wolfsburg in their Bundesliga match in Leipzig, Germany, on Sunday. Only some spectacular saves from Kamil Grabara kept the hosts at bay, with Diomande, Gruda and Konrad Harder all forcing stops from the Poland goalkeeper. Wolfsburg retook the lead eight minutes later, Jeanuel Belocian unpicking the Leipzig defense with a simple pass for Svanberg to score. Gruda was again well-placed for Leipzig’s second goal when he pounced on a loose ball in the Wolfsburg penalty area before curling a fine effort into the top corner.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 16:26 UTC
Alex de Minaur finally claims Rotterdam title
Alex de Minaur finally claims Rotterdam titleAFP, THE HAGUE, NetherlandsAustralia’s Alex de Minaur on Sunday won the Rotterdam Open at the third time of asking, producing typical counterpunching tennis to overcome Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2. “It feels great to finally be able to lift the title,” the world No. “Every day I got better and I’m super pleased with the performance today.”Australia’s Alex de Minaur returns to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Rotterdam Open men’s singles final in the Netherlands on Sunday. Australia’s Alex de Minaur holds the trophy after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in the Rotterdam Open men’s singles final in the Netherlands on Sunday. However, De Minaur again broke his serve to love, Auger-Aliassime dumping a forehand into the net to put the Australian on the brink.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 16:26 UTC
Arsenal thrash Wigan Athletic
Arsenal thrash Wigan AthleticLATE DRAMA: Leeds United survived a penalty shoot-out to edge past second-tier Birmingham City at St Andrew’s and reach the fifth roundAFP, LONDONArsenal on Sunday powered into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years as the quadruple chasers crushed Wigan Athletic 4-0. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, center, scores past Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle, right, in their FA Cup fourth-round match at the Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday. Arsenal’s latest FA Cup clash with Wigan lacked the drama of their previous one in 2013-2014 — a semi-final win featuring a penalty shoot-out goal from then-Gunners captain Arteta. Eze repaid Arteta’s faith, cleverly turning into space for a superb pass to Madueke, who raced into the Wigan penalty area and finished with aplomb. Leeds United survived a penalty shoot-out to edge past second-tier Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
Source:Taipei Times
February 16, 2026 16:26 UTC
Bounteous business
Tesla not planning to cut pricesNEW IMPORTS: Car dealer PG Union Corp said it would consider introducing US-made models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Stellantis’ RAM 1500 to Taiwan Tesla Taiwan yesterday said that it does not plan to cut its car prices in the wake of Washington and Taipei signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on Thursday to eliminate tariffs on US-made cars. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz Taiwan said it is planning to lower the price of its five models imported from the US after the zero tariff comes into effect. Tesla in a statement said it has no plan to adjust the prices of the US-made Model 3, Model S and Model X as tariffs are not the only factor the automaker uses to determine pricing policies.
Source:Taipei Times
February 15, 2026 20:15 UTC