DIPLOMACY
European legislators visit
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Eight parliamentarians from European countries — Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Ukraine — arrived in Taiwan yesterday to begin a six-day exchange with senior officials and NGO representatives. The delegation, led by Zygimantas Pavilionis, deputy chair of the Lithuanian Seimas’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, would meet officials during its stay through Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The group would visit a Ministry of National Defense-funded think tank and an NGO focused on promoting digital diplomacy, as well as the frontline island of Kinmen, to better understand Taiwan’s history and national development, the foreign ministry said.
POLITICS
KMT party to visit China
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) is leading a delegation to Beijing from today to Wednesday for a think tank exchange with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the KMT yesterday said. The delegation includes KMT-affiliated National Policy Foundation deputy chairman Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) and about 40 others. The exchange is said to focus on administrative, industrial, energy and scientific topics. A KMT source said the delegation is scheduled to attend a dinner with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) this evening, with other scheduled visits on Wednesday. The delegation might also meet National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Wang Huning (王滬寧).
HEALTH
Early refills available
People who might run out of medication during the Lunar New Year holiday, from Feb. 14 to Feb. 22, can visit clinics or hospitals through Feb. 13 to get early refills, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. People originally scheduled for follow-up visits or prescription refills during the holiday can visit earlier to avoid interruptions in treatment, the ministry said. About 1.46 million people could be affected, the National Health Insurance Administration estimated. Those needing to collect refills in advance can use the National Health Insurance app to check pharmacy hours.
CRIME
Nine arrested over scam
Nine people were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency scam that defrauded nearly 1,000 victims of more than NT$5 billion (US$158.9 million) for several years. The Taipei District Court issued a warrant for the arrest of the lead suspect, surnamed Chiu (邱), and eight alleged accomplices, holding them incommunicado, the court said. The nine suspects were arrested on Friday after the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office led investigators and police in simultaneous raids at nine locations. The group promised investors safe monthly returns of between 3 percent and 7 percent through investments in cryptocurrencies known as EGT and TBT via a fake lending Web site, prosecutors said. Victims were scammed out of more than NT$5 billion between 2022 and last year after attending “investment seminars” hosted by the group, prosecutors said. The group was allegedly involved in another scam in 2023 involving fake cryptocurrency and green energy investments, which defrauded 316 people of NT$277.3 million. Chiu and 16 others were indicted last month on fraud and money laundering charges. Chiu was later released on bail, with the trial pending.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
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