It is not surprising, as the issue of Chinese collaborators in Taiwan is not something new and has been a long-standing problem, Hung said. However, this incident has shown the public that Chinese infiltration is no longer limited to political figures or grassroots organizations, but has deeply penetrated into the information production chain, Hung said. This type of infiltration is highly covert and is the most difficult part of cognitive warfare to defend against, he said. CTi News said one of its reporters, Lin Chen-you (林宸佑), has been detained, but that it was not aware of the case details. Prosecutors said that Lin paid military officers bribes ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars in exchange for providing information to Chinese people.

These forecasts noticeably improved last year, with errors in 24-hour forecasts for typhoon paths 12 percent lower than in 2024, it said. Introducing smart programs and AI models has significantly reduced errors in typhoon forecasts, the CWA said. The CWA frequently used AI models last year as forecasters became more familiar with them, improving typhoon forecast accuracy, Huang said. With success in more accurately predicting typhoon paths, the CWA would next turn to applying AI models to model wind and rain levels, Huang said. The agency’s traditional physical models have reached resolution of 1 to 3km, while large AI models only have a resolution of 25 to 28km, he said.

TPP announces its policy agenda for local electionsStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday unveiled its policy platform for the local elections. The TPP’s 80-page policy white paper is more substantive and practical than typical reports submitted by central ministries to the legislature, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said. The party’s platform has on four core goals: stabilizing society, supporting families, safeguarding health and safety, and bolstering industries, he said. Meanwhile, Huang said a joint agenda with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has been largely drafted and is awaiting ratification. The KMT still needs to carry out internal candidate nomination procedures, which the TPP respects, he said.

Carrick’s United defeat Manchester CityAFP, LONDONMichael Carrick on Saturday made a flying start to life as Manchester United boss against Manchester City, but English Premier League leaders Arsenal missed a chance to pull nine points clear. Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick, right, and Matheus Cunha celebrate after winning their English Premier League match against Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Saturday. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez heads the ball ahead of Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Saturday. A frustrated Arteta, chasing a first Premier League title for the Gunners since 2004, felt that his side should have been awarded a penalty, believing Ola Aina had handled the ball. Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 2-1 while Leeds United scored late on to beat Fulham 1-0, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Taiwan eases work, residency restrictions for foreign professionalsNew measures aimed at making Taiwan more attractive to foreign professionals came into effect this month, the National Development Council said yesterday. Among the changes, international students at Taiwanese universities would be able to work in Taiwan without a work permit in the two years after they graduate, explainer materials provided by the council said. In addition, foreign nationals who graduated from one of the world’s top 200 universities within the past five years can also apply for a two-year open work permit. Previously, those graduates would have needed to apply for a work permit using point-based criteria or have a Taiwanese company

Former KMT chair candidate who told legislator not to speak Hoklo slammedBy Fang Wei-li and Jason Pan / Staff reportersA demand by Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) speak Mandarin during a public hearing at the Legislative Yuan has been condemned by linguists and pan-green camp politicians. Chang then interrupted him, saying: “Please speak Guoyu [國語, Mandarin].”Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung is pictured at a hearing at the Legislative Yuan on Thursday. If you cannot understand what I said, you can use a translator,” Wang told Chang in Hoklo. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Yi-chuan attends a hearing at the Legislative Yuan on Thursday. Chang was discriminating against Hoklo speakers and does not know that under the law, it is now one of Taiwan’s national languages, some people said.

Proceed with caution regarding the ‘no parole’ change to Criminal Code: NHRCBy Jason Pan / Staff reporter, with CNATaiwan should proceed with caution regarding a proposal to deny the possibility of parole for people who commit major crimes and are sentenced to life imprisonment, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a paper released on Friday. The entrance of the National Human Rights Commission at the Control Yuan in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. “Permanently excluding any possibility of individualized review through legislation might exceed the limits permitted by the Constitution and international human rights standards, and therefore requires careful consideration,” it said. Taiwan has already incorporated into law a number of international human rights covenants, which have been frequently cited and applied by the nation’s courts, the commission said. “It is important to protect public safety while ensuring the criminal justice system does not contravene the core values of protecting human rights,” the commission said.

Taiwan office move lacks transparency: S African lawmakerISSUE: South Africa in 2024 announced it would categorize the office as a ‘trade office’ and relocate it from administrative capital, Pretoria, to JohannesburgStaff writer, with CNASouth Africa’s decision to ask Taiwan to relocate and rename its representative office in Pretoria lacked transparency and was not properly reviewed, a South African lawmaker from the country’s second-largest political party said. “There has been no full debate, no serious committee engagement and no attempt by the executive to explain itself in a transparent way,” said Janho Engelbrecht, a South African National Assembly member representing the Democratic Alliance party. It is unclear how widely Engelbrecht’s views are held in the 400-seat South African National Assembly, or even within his party, which holds 87 seats and is a key player in the governing coalition led by the ANC. DIRCO had asked Taiwan to move the office in 2024 and complete the move in six months, but did not announce it until the deadline was near. The representative office in Pretoria and South Africa’s office in Taiwan are still operating normally, the ministry said.

Ansgar Knauff snatches late draw for FrankfurtAFP, BERLINAnsgar Knauff on Friday scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch a point for out-of-sorts Eintracht Frankfurt in a 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen. With less than a quarter-of-an-hour to play, Frankfurt led 2-1, but goals from Jens Stage and Jovan Milosevic in a three-minute spell turned the match on its head. Werder Bremen’s Jovan Miosevic controls the ball during their German Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Bremen, Germany, on Friday. Photo: dpa via APHowever, Knauff’s late strike snatched a share of the spoils for Frankfurt. The hosts rallied and looked on track for victory until Knauff’s late heroics.

Lions’ Chen Yung-chi to retire after the 2026 seasonStaff writer, with CNATen-time Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) All-Star Chen Yung-chi is retiring from the sport after this season with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. “This year will be my last season,” the veteran infielder said at a media event in Taipei on Friday. The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions’ Chen Yung-chi poses for a photograph at a media event in Taipei on Friday. Set to turn 43 in July, Chen signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2004 and began his professional career in the US. Storvick urged Chen to dream bigger.

Harden steps up late as Clippers edge RaptorsAFP, LOS ANGELESJames Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden, right, protects the ball from the Toronto Raptors’ Ochai Agbaji during their NBA match in Toronto on Friday. Photo: APHarden made four free-throws to open overtime as the Clippers pulled away, scoring eight of their 12 points in the decisive extra frame. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points to lead seven Raptors players to score in double figures.

Coach banned after sharing indecent imagesThe GuardianThe former manager of a fourth-tier women’s soccer club has been banned from all soccer for 12 years after he sent indecent images of himself to players and a member of staff as well as subjecting them to sexually inappropriate behavior. Hamilton denied 24 FA charges of improper conduct, all relating to his time in charge of the club, but an independent regulatory commission concluded that 23 of the 24 were proven. The FA received evidence from four players and a staff member, all of whom detailed examples of Hamilton trying to illicit sexual activity between May 2022 and November 2024. Photo: Reuters“Women should be able to participate in soccer without being subjected to the sort of behaviour Mr Hamilton exhibited towards them. Of the 24 charges, one — where it had been alleged that Hamilton had asked the staff member to go home with him while they were working in another job — was found not proven.

Petrokina comes back from surgery to win goldReuters, SHEFFIELD, EnglandEstonia’s Niina Petrokina on Friday capped a remarkable comeback by claiming her second consecutive European women’s figure skating title just weeks after returning to the ice following Achilles surgery. After having surgery on Oct. 9 last year, Petrokina was not able to train her triple jumps until less than two weeks ago. Estonia’s Niina Petrokina poses for a photograph with her gold medal after winning the women’s figure skating competition in the ISU Figure Ice Skating European Championships in Sheffield, England, on Friday. Photo: AFP“I don’t know how I do it, but I know I am unstoppable, because I love what I do,” she said. This time I came here to win and show one more time that I can do this, because in Estonia some guys told me that it’s unreal to win second time, and I just wanted to show that it’s real,” she added.

Dembele brace fires PSG top in FranceCONSISTENCY: PSG started the game with Dembele, Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia in a line up similar to the one that beat Inter in the Champions League final last yearAFP, PARISOusmane Dembele on Friday scored twice as champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) climbed top of Ligue 1 with a dominant 3-0 win over Lille OSC at a rainy Parc des Princes in Paris. Dembele won the Ballon d’Or last season, but has had an injury-blighted season so far. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele gestures as he celebrates after scoring their first goal during their French Ligue 1 match against Lille LOSC in Paris on Friday. A confident Dembele curled a sweet left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box on 13 minutes to open the scoring. Dembele also netted shortly after the break, popping up unmarked at the far post only for an offside flag to deny him.

Uganda opposition leader ‘cut off’‘CONTROLLED ACCESS’: Bobi Wine said he managed to escape house arrest, while Ugandan police said that they were taking measures to ‘prevent violence’AFP, KAMPALAUgandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was cut off from communications yesterday after a police raid on his home, his party said, with the security forces determined to prevent unrest ahead of imminent election results. As Uganda endured a tense wait after Thursday’s polls, Museveni had a commanding lead against Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician. A Ugandan military officer stands guard outside the National Tally Centre near the Ugandan Electoral Commission headquarters in Lubowa, Uganda, on Friday. Reporters were blocked from entering Wine’s residence early yesterday and could not reach him or his entourage by phone. Wine’s party had earlier written on social media that he had been “forcibly taken” by an army helicopter from his compound, but later deleted the post.