Cabinet to change conscripts’ serviceMORE RESPONSIBILITY: Draftees would be expected to fight alongside professional soldiers, likely requiring the transformation of some training brigades into combat unitsBy Fang Wei-li and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAThe armed forces are to start incorporating new conscripts into combined arms brigades this year to enhance combat readiness, the Executive Yuan’s latest policy report said. The new policy would affect Taiwanese men entering the military for their compulsory service, which was extended to one year under reforms by then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in 2022. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesAfter basic training, conscripts would be sorted into infantry battalions that would take part in the Lien Yung (聯勇) exercises, with a focus on “bind and strike” tactics, it said. The training regime outlined by the document for the infantry battalion implies that conscripts would no longer be deployed exclusively in static defense, and are instead expected to fight alongside professional soldiers in mixed formations. This means that some of the army’s new combined arms brigades would be able to utilize an infantry battalion of conscripts as a fixing force, while professional soldiers attack the enemy with tanks and armored infantry teams.

UK, Japan to deepen defense and security tiesAFP, TOKYOThe UK and Japan agreed to deepen defense and economic ties, visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said yesterday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands after their meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo yesterday. Trump said it was “very dangerous” for its close ally to be dealing with China, although Starmer brushed off those comments. Tokyo’s ties with Beijing have deteriorated since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily during a potential attack on Taiwan. The UK, Japan and Italy are also developing a new fighter jet after Tokyo relied for decades on the US for military hardware.

Gold rally pushes Italian jewelers to make leaner designsSmall jewelers are facing the most acute challenges, while wedding rings highlight price sensitivityBy Alessandro Parodi / ReutersIn Italy’s storied gold-making hubs, jewelers are reworking their designs to trim gold content as they race to blunt the effect of record prices and appeal to shoppers watching their budgets. Gold prices hit a record high on Thursday, surging near US$5,600 an ounce, more than double a year ago as geopolitical concerns and jitters over trade pushed investors toward the safe-haven asset. People look at gold jewelry at a store at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday. However, demand for gold jewelry is expected to endure as consumers continue to look at the metal as a store of value. “In the end, they pay for gold because they want it to be gold,” the producer said.

Nvidia halts plan to invest US$100bn in OpenAI: ‘WSJ’By Nick Turner / BloombergNvidia Corp’s negotiations to invest as much as US$100 billion in OpenAI have broken down, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, exposing a potential rift between two of the most powerful companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The discussions stalled after some inside Nvidia expressed concerns about the transaction, the WSJ reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the deliberations. OpenAI makes the popular chatbot ChatGPT, while Nvidia dominates the market for AI processors that help develop such software. The US$100 billion was meant to support new data centers and other AI infrastructure, built with Nvidia components. OpenAI has been seeking to raise as much as US$100 billion in that round.

Flagg breaks NBA teen record with 49-point gameAFP, LOS ANGELESCooper Flagg scored 49 points — the most-ever by a teenager in a single NBA game — but it was not enough to save the Dallas Mavericks from a 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. However, in the game’s dying seconds, Flagg committed a turnover, and immediately raced up the court and fouled fellow rookie star Kon Knueppel, who converted two free throws. Still, with his 49-point haul, Flagg blasted past a record set almost half a century ago by Cliff Robinson, who scored 45 points as a 19-year-old way back in 1980. Charlotte’s own star rookie Knueppel — a college roommate and teammate of Flagg — also managed a career-high night, with 34 points. Dillon Brooks scored a career-best 40 points in a 114-96 victory for the Phoenix Suns over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

Taipei man dies of hantavirus, rodents near residence test positiveStaff writer, with CNAAn elderly man with underlying health conditions died in mid-January, eight days after the onset of symptoms, marking Taiwan’s first hantavirus death this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The man, who was in his 70s and lived in Taipei’s Daan District (大安), tested positive posthumously for hantavirus after passing away on Jan. 13 from sepsis complicated by multiple organ failure and pneumonia, the CDC said in a press release. A rat and its pups are pictured in an undated photograph. Following the fatality, local authorities conducted a screening near the man’s residence, with two of the four specimens captured testing positive for hantavirus. To mitigate the risk of transmission, Taipei City Government’s environmental teams conducted a disinfection sweep within a 200-meter radius of the man’s residence and deployed specialized rodenticide to eliminate potential viral vectors.

‘French Spider-Man’ praises Honnold’s Taipei 101 climbAlain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man," praised Alex Honnold as exceptionally well-prepared after the US climber completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101 yesterday. Robert said Honnold's ascent of the 508m-tall skyscraper in just more than one-and-a-half hours without using safety ropes or equipment was a remarkable achievement. "This is my life," he said in an interview conducted in French, adding that he liked the feeling of being "on the edge of danger." The 63-year-old Frenchman climbed Taipei 101 using ropes in December 2004, taking about four hours to reach the top. On a one-to-10 scale of difficulty, Robert said Taipei 101

Forest, Celtic into play-offs as Villa fight backAFP, PARISNottingham Forest FC are to go into the Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros TC on Thursday, while Celtic FC secured their place in the knockout phase with a victory over FC Utrecht. Aston Villa FC finished second in the league phase after recovering from two goals down to beat FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 with their spot in the last 16 already assured. FC Utrecht’s Vasilis Barkas, second left, and Celtic FC’s Auston Trusty, center, vie for the ball in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday. Elsewhere, Celtic overcame lowly Utrecht 4-2 after scoring three times in the first 19 minutes in Glasgow. Olympique Lyonnais topped the table with seven wins from eight after completing the league phase with a 4-2 victory over PAOK.

Bolt suspends driver after passenger dies on highwayBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNARide-hailing platform Bolt today confirmed that a driver, who allegedly dropped off a passenger on a highway resulting in the passenger’s death, was operating via its platform. The driver, surnamed Lin (林), reportedly forced a passenger out of the vehicle on Provincial Highway 64 on Sunday, after which the passenger was struck and killed by passing vehicles. The scene of an accident that killed one on Provincial Highway 64 in New Taipei City’s Banciao District is pictured on Sunday. Photo: Taipei TimesThe platform said it was “deeply saddened and regretful” over the incident that claimed the life of a young person. The platform said it has been in contact with its partner taxi fleets and relevant authorities since the incident came to light.

Trump threatens Canada with 50% tariff on airplanesBloombergUS President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on aircraft from Canada sold in the US and decertify all new planes made in the country until Ottawa agreed to approve some jets made by Gulfstream, a unit of General Dynamics Corp.Canada had “wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets,” Trump wrote on social media. In response, the US would decertify “Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified,” he said. A Gulfstream Aerospace G500 is pictured at the International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget airport on June 18, 2023. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50 percent Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America,” he said. Still, it was unclear how the US would decertify the aircraft, as such a measure typically relates to safety issues.

Eurozone economy beats estimates as Q4 GDP rises 0.3%BloombergThe eurozone economy grew more than expected at the end of last year, with fourth-quarter GDP rising 0.3 percent from the previous three months — maintaining the pace it set in the previous period — Eurostat said yesterday. Germany, Italy and Spain all surpassed estimates, with the latter proving the standout performer once again through expansion of 0.8 percent. In Germany, household and government consumption drove growth of 0.3 percent from October to December last year. However, fourth-quarter investment rose by 0.2 percent, while consumer spending growth accelerated to 0.3 percent. For last year, GDP rose 0.9 percent.

Legislature passes amendment reserving 20 percent of social housing for newlywedsStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan yesterday passed amendments to the Housing Act (住宅法), requiring that at least 20 percent of social housing units be reserved for newlyweds within their first two years of marriage and families with minor children. Under the amended law, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is required to set up a social housing registration platform to track demand and unit types, which will serve as a basis for future social housing development plans. The MOI platform must be able to connect with local government social housing registration systems, allowing data to be shared for nationwide planning. The new Article 20-1, requires authorities to consider local population trends and housing conditions when drafting or reviewing urban plans, in order to assess social housing needs and designate land accordingly. She added that the establishment of a social housing registration platform will allow the public to access nationwide rental information and help authorities continue improving social housing policies.

Legislature advances TPP’s defense billKNOCK-OFF The bill, which an official said resembled a crudely copied and amputated version of the larger cabinet defense bill, was advanced by the opposition-controlled bodyStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan yesterday advanced a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)-sponsored bill governing arms procurement packages approved by the US to a committee review. Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers hold up signs in the legislature in Taipei yesterday protesting the opposition parties’ refusal to discuss the Cabinet’s version of a special defense budget. The TPP bill “lacked strategic vision and force-building planning, deviated from established military procurement practices and ignored defense self-reliance,” she said. The KMT caucus would put forward its own version of the amendments, he said. Cooperation with the TPP caucus remains important and the KMT caucus’ discussions with the TPP caucus would continue, he said.

US foreign relations committee advances Taiwan-related billsBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday advanced three Taiwan-related bills, although a fourth was set aside for later discussion. The three measures passed are the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act and the Taiwan Allies Fund Act. Senators set the act aside over fears of upsetting China, saying that Taiwan had never requested a change in policy. US Senator Rand Paul said he would vote against the bill unless Taiwan gives a statement on the issue. In the committee, even one member can block a bill and delay discussions until the next hearing.

Office helping foreigners moving to TaiwanStaff writer, with CNAAmendments to the law governing foreign professionals have expanded pathways to work and long-term residency, and the International Talent Taiwan Office can help them understand how the new rules apply to their individual circumstances, the office’s managing director said. “There are many government processes that come with moving to a new country, and we hope to provide the best information we can,” International Talent Taiwan Office Managing Director Jonathan Liao (廖炳坤) said on Thursday. Officials and event guests hold up placards at the opening of the International Talent Taiwan Office’s southern Taiwan branch in Kaohsiung on Oct. 23, 2024. Photo: Ge You-hao, Taipei TimesThe International Talent Taiwan Office was set up in November 2023 as part of efforts spearheaded by the National Development Council (NDC) to attract foreign professionals to work in Taiwan. “There are different funnels for people to ultimately stay in Taiwan,” he said, adding that the office is there to help foreigners understand those various pathways.