Ministry gives advice on K-pop-crazed teenagers
Ministry gives advice on K-pop-crazed teenagersBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAWith young people investing lots of time and money on K-pop merchandise, the Ministry of Education yesterday released an article on the psychology behind the culture craze with advice to parents on how to handle it. Among the Web site’s many resources is an article on K-pop by Shu-Te University Graduate School of Human Sexuality assistant professor Kuo Hung Kuo-hsiung (郭洪國雄). Young people devote lots of time and resources to K-pop fandoms, “exceeding what parents imagine,” the article said. Social media networks can create the expectation that viewers must like certain idols to fit in, the article said. For children, K-pop is not just entertainment, but a type of emotional support and source of social connection, the ministry’s media resource network said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 17:14 UTC
Cabin motorcycles to be approved for local roads
The amendment stipulates that such vehicles would be called cabin motorcycles, which refer to three-wheeled motorcycles equipped with an enclosed passenger compartment and a steering wheel, and would be granted license plates designated for motorcycles. Meanwhile, the amendment would ban cabin motorcycle riders from driving on freeways and expressways, and riders and passengers must have their seatbelts fastened, but do not need to wear helmets. To ensure that the steering wheel, windows, seatbelts and windshield wipers function normally, cabin motorcycle riders are required to have their vehicles inspected. Cabin motorcycle riders would face a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$12,000 if they have only a motorcycle license, as per the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). Driving a cabin motorcycle without a license would incur a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$36,000.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 17:14 UTC
Taipei to sign Nvidia HQ contract soon
Taipei to sign Nvidia HQ contract soonWRAPPING UP: The Taipei City Government is to review the land rights and royalties in the contract today, with the aim of signing the contract before the Lunar New YearStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei City Government and Nvidia Corp are to sign a contract before the Lunar New Year allowing the artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer to build its Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou Shilin Technology Park, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said yesterday. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, center, speaks to reporters at a Taipei MRT groundbreaking ceremony yesterday. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei TimesThe Taipei City Government is scheduled to review the land rights plan and royalties for the contract with Nvidia today. Once the review is complete, there would also be a subsequent valuation review, negotiations and contract signing procedures, with the final signing to take place before the Lunar New Year, Chiang said. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) wrapped up a four-day visit to Taiwan earlier this week, during which he attended a year-end party for Nvidia Taiwan staff and met with major suppliers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 17:14 UTC
Ukrainian sumo star trains for Japan’s top prize
Ukrainian sumo star trains for Japan’s top prizeReuters, TOKYOThe Ukraine-born grappler who has taken the sumo world by storm is in deep training for a historic run at the highest prize in Japan’s national sport. Aonishiki, whose sumo name means “blue brocade” in honor of the Ukrainian flag, has rocketed through sumo’s ranks at record speed. Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata, the ring name of Danylo Yavhusishyn, drinks water at a training session at his Ajigawa stable in Tokyo yesterday. A friend from his sumo circle took him into his home in Kobe in western Japan and the young Ukrainian began training in earnest in the sport. Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata, the ring name of Danylo Yavhusishyn, left, watches other wrestlers practice during a training session at his Ajigawa stable in Tokyo yesterday.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 17:14 UTC
Trump’s fragile unreliability has killed the US’ deterrence
Trump’s fragile unreliability has killed the US’ deterrenceBy Stephen HolmesUS President Donald Trump’s administration’s new National Defense Strategy (NDS) places “deterrence” at the center of the US’ grand strategy: Deter China from dominating the Indo-Pacific region, deter threats to US access to Asian markets. However, the independence of such institutions is precisely what makes long-term commitments credible to foreign observers. Deterrence fails not only when threats lack credibility, but when the absence of credibility tempts adversaries into recklessness. Trump’s NDS speaks the language of deterrence fluently, but strategy documents do not deter. Credible commitments, sustained over time, do.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 16:06 UTC
Australia’s Pacific mobility scheme is in its interests, if it can work
Australia’s Pacific mobility scheme is in its interests, if it can workThe PALM scheme boosts incomes for Pacific nations, fills Australia’s work needs, fosters cultural exchange and improves diplomatic linksThe PALM scheme boosts incomes for Pacific nations, fills Austra / The GuardianThe Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) is a crucial source of workers across regional Australia. PALM workers make a significant contribution to regional businesses that struggle to attract local workers, from farms to abattoirs. The third win is that PALM advances Australia’s strategic interests, not least by providing a counter to China’s wooing of Pacific nations. Yet the wins of the PALM scheme have countervailing costs in the pain of separated families, loneliness and broken marriages. Australia’s interest in fostering Pacific development and rivalry with China are added reasons to limiting working holidays and expanding the PALM scheme instead.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 16:06 UTC
Pingtung’s long wait for HSR
Pingtung’s long wait for HSRBy Yeh Yu-chin 葉宇晉For decades, Pingtung County (屏東縣) in southern Taiwan has been conspicuously left behind in the development of high-speed rail (HSR). While other regions already enjoy fast and reliable long-distance transport, Pingtung is still being asked whether it “really needs” HSR. Yet these arguments miss the reality of local transportation needs. A major infrastructure project with profound implications for southern development is thus being judged almost entirely through non-local lenses. Pingtung County Commissioner Chou Chun-mi (周春米) has continued pressing the central government for the southern HSR extension, completing urban planning work and advancing complementary development around the proposed station.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 16:06 UTC
Ministry advises parents on teen K-pop obsession
Ministry advises parents on teen K-pop obsessionBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAWith young people investing lots of time and money on K-pop fandom, the Ministry of Education today released an article on the psychology behind the culture craze with advice to parents on how to handle it. In a news release, the ministry advised parents to spend time over winter vacation using its Media Literacy Education Resources Network to help children understand how media operates and protect themselves. Young people devote lots of time and resources to K-pop fandom, “exceeding what parents imagine,” the article said. The third layer lies in social media, which repeatedly expose children to related content such as friends buying concert tickets or unboxing K-pop merchandise. These social media networks can create the expectation that viewers must like certain idols to fit in, the article said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 14:50 UTC
Taiwan donates US$3m to aid St Vincent social relief programs
Taiwan donates US$3m to aid St Vincent social relief programsStaff writer, with CNAThe government yesterday donated US$3 million to the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to support its social relief programs, Taiwan's embassy to the Caribbean ally said today. The donation was made by Ambassador Fiona Fan (范惠君) to SVG Prime Minister Godwin Friday during a ceremony, the embassy said in a social media post. Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fiona Fan, front row, second left, sits with Cabinet members of the Caribbean nation in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of Taiwan's embassy in Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesFriday expressed his gratitude on behalf of his government and people for Taiwan's support, adding that the grant represents a vital "investment in people" of the Caribbean nation. The funds would address community needs and help strengthen social institutions across the country, he was quoted as saying.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 14:45 UTC
Man shot dead by police after stabbing incident in Miaoli
Man shot dead by police after stabbing incident in MiaoliBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAA man with a prior criminal record this morning stabbed a police officer twice in the head before being shot by another officer at a market in Miaoli, the Miaoli County Police Department said. The 40-year-old man, surnamed Chung (鍾), succumbed to his injuries earlier today, while the officer remains in intensive care, it said. Police investigate the scene of a stabbing incident today at Nan Miao Market in Miaoli City. Chung, the civilian and the stabbed officer were transferred to Miaoli General Hospital and Da Chien General Hospital for treatment, it said. Chung was later pronounced dead after emergency surgery to treat injuries to his upper left arm, left chest and left abdomen, Miaoli District Prosecutors’ Office said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 14:38 UTC
Taiwanese online drug trafficker sentenced to 30 years in US
Taiwanese online drug trafficker sentenced to 30 years in USBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAA New York court yesterday sentenced a Taiwanese man to 30 years in prison for conspiring to distribute narcotics, money laundering and conspiring to sell adulterated and misbranded medication. Taiwanese national Lin Rui-siang (林睿庠) was arrested in May 2024 for operating an online narcotics marketplace, called “Incognito Market,” the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a news release yesterday. A screen grab shows products on the Incognito Market online platform. While Lin was in the US, he sold US$105 million worth of drugs to online customers, making him “one of the world’s most prolific drug traffickers,” Clayton said. Lin operated the Incognito Market under the online pseudonym “Pharaoh,” supervised its operations and “had ultimate decision-making authority over every aspect of the multimillion-dollar operation,” the court said in its statement.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 14:14 UTC
Lantern Festival to include Taiwan’s World Expo pavilion
Lantern Festival to include Taiwan’s World Expo pavilionBy Chung Li-hua and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan’s Tech World pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, is to be recreated in Chiayi County for a temporary exhibition from March 1 to 15 during the Taiwan Lantern Festival, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) announced today. The pavilion in Osaka attracted more than 1.16 million visitors at last year’s World Expo, showcasing Taiwan’s scenic beauty and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology. A screen displays animations at Taiwan’s Tech World pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, on April 22 last year. The three exhibits — Life Theater, Nature Theater and Future Theater — would maintain their original essence, he added. Construction of the original pavilion cost NT$2 billion, TAITRA said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 10:03 UTC
Vietnamese man sentenced to over 8 years for animal killings
Vietnamese man sentenced to over 8 years for animal killingsStaff writer, with CNAThe Taichung District Court last week sentenced an undocumented Vietnamese migrant worker to eight years and two months in prison for illegally hunting and selling a stray cat and an endangered leopard cat. On March 13 last year, Ban killed a stray cat and sold it through Pham to a buyer, with the two together reaping NT$1,500 in proceeds. Ban shot and killed a leopard cat — a protected species in Taiwan — on April 19 last year, and again asked Pham to find a buyer. The following day, Pham's Vietnamese girlfriend, surnamed Nguyen, delivered the leopard cat carcass to a buyer and collected NT$3,000. Nguyen later received deferred prosecution, while Pham was sentenced in November last year to one year in prison for contravening the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 05:11 UTC
Instant noodle purchase wins NT$10m invoice lottery
Instant noodle purchase wins NT$10m invoice lotteryBy Cheng Chi-fang and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThere were 17 winners of the NT$10 million (US$316,641) Special Prize in the November-December uniform invoice lottery, one of whom only purchased a NT$23 cup of instant noodles, the Ministry of Finance said today. There were 17 winners of the NT$10 million Special Prize with the receipt No. 13965913, and 20 winners of the NT$2 million Grand Prize, receipt No. One lucky winner in Taichung’s Nantun District (南屯) snagged the top prize after spending just NT$23 on instant noodles at a 7-Eleven on Jingcheng Road, it said. One was also issued at a PXMart in Taichung’s East District (東區), with the winner purchasing vegetables, instant noodles and yogurt, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 05:06 UTC
Taipei, Nvidia to sign HQ contract before LNY: mayor
Taipei, Nvidia to sign HQ contract before LNY: mayorStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei City Government and Nvidia Corp are to sign a contract before the Lunar New Year allowing the artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer to build its Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou Shilin Technology Park, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said today. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, front row, third left, attends a Taipei MRT groundbreaking ceremony this morning. The Taipei City Government is scheduled to review the land rights plan and royalties for the contract with Nvidia today. Once the review is complete, there would also be a subsequent valuation review, negotiations and contract signing procedures, with the final signing to take place before the Lunar New Year, Chiang said. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) wrapped up a four-day visit to Taiwan earlier this week, during which he attended a year-end party for Nvidia Taiwan staff and met with major suppliers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Source:Taipei Times
February 04, 2026 04:58 UTC