title: New megacities lie in the path of devastating floods

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Unlike famine and infectious disease, tragic urban floods are rarely the result of absolute poverty, they are most often the outcome of development that is failing to keep pace with the problems it brings in its wake

Humanity’s future lies in some of the most vulnerable spots on the planet.

We have seen that in stark relief of late. A UN report last month concluded that the world’s population is increasingly crowded into a group of often low-lying, middle-income megacities in Asia and Africa.

Jakarta and Dhaka have dethroned Tokyo’s long-held status as the world’s biggest city, with 42 million, 37 million and 33 million people respectively. Mexico City and Sao Paulo were overtaken by Shanghai and Cairo among the global top 10. Bangkok, New Delhi, Karachi, Lagos, Luanda and Manila are some of the fastest growing among metropolises of more than 10 million.

Many of these very regions have been hit by a devastating run of floods. The monsoon belt from Southeast Asia to West Africa is at the same time the swath of the globe that is urbanizing fastest, and the one where catastrophic rainfall is set to increase most dramatically. More than 1,000 people have been killed in a wave of storms that have stretched from Sri Lanka to Vietnam, with more than 700 dead in Indonesia and at least 267 fatalities in Thailand.

Such disastrous events are hardly unprecedented. Most of our earliest civilizations grew up along inundation-prone river valleys, as evidenced by the near-universality of deluge myths. In the same rural areas of Southeast Asia that have been among the worst-hit by the rains, homes were traditionally built on stilts under steeply pitched roofs to allow water to run away without doing harm. Local traditions often warn against building near wild rivers prone to bursting their banks.

The sophistication of this vernacular technology is underappreciated, but — as with the more technical modeling that is done to mitigate flash flooding in the modern urban environment — it is inadequate to the challenges we face as our planet warms.

With each degree that the local temperature rises, the atmosphere’s ability to hold moisture goes up by about 7 percent. That is an immense amount when you consider that a cyclone can easily hold half a billion tonnes of water. Indigenous knowledge, like modern flood maps, is grounded in a historical understanding of how rainwater behaves, but the heating of our planet is making all those old predictions irrelevant.

The risks of this are greatest in the expanding megacities. The current rural population of about 1.5 billion would barely grow before heading into permanent decline in the 2040s, according to the UN, but two-thirds of population growth from now to 2050 would be in cities. About half of the billion new urbanites would be in just seven countries, most of them in the Asian and African monsoon belts — India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

Unlike rural-dwellers who can often site their settlements in more stable locations, city migrants rarely have much choice about where to live. That is why so many shantytowns are built on land previously neglected as too risky, from the landslide-prone hillsides of Brazil’s favelas and Venezuela’s barrios to the swamps that gave rise to slums in Mumbai’s Dharavi, Bangkok’s Khlong Toei and Lagos’ Makoko.

Precious few of these places have the sort of wealth to handle the engineering challenges of weather-proofing their built environment. Out of 1.8 billion flood-threatened people worldwide, just 11 percent are in high-income nations.

Unlike famine and infectious disease, tragic urban floods are rarely the result of absolute poverty. Instead, they are most often the outcome of development that is failing to keep pace with the problems it brings in its wake — cities whose allure is drawing people in so fast that infrastructure is incapable of moving at the same speed.

The most damaging flooding over the past week in Thailand was in Hat Yai, a bustling tourist and shopping destination close to the Malaysian border that is home to a special economic zone and one of the nation’s busiest airports. In Sri Lanka, the fast-growing capital, Colombo, was the worst-hit.

That puts a grave responsibility on municipal and national governments. All are counting on cities as the engines of growth over coming decades, but they need to work hard in the face of natural disasters that would perpetually threaten to tear apart the urban fabric. The great centers of India, straining under water shortages and choking urban pollution, show what can happen to a nation when urbanization starts to fail.

Bringing fresh water and global connections with them, rivers and coastlines have long been the lifeblood of the world’s great cities. As rising seas and devastating floods now make those same places increasingly unlivable, we must confront the possibility that these life-giving attributes could be their doom as well.

David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.


title: ‘Stan economy’ booming in Japan despite inflation

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Inflation is the No. 1 public concern in Japan, but one section of the economy is proving to be invulnerable to rising prices — pop idols, YouTubers and cartoon characters.

The term oshikatsu has been on the lips of everyone from executives to the Bank of Japan. Lacking a good direct translation, the word means supporting your favorite idol, character or artist. You can think of it as being like a dedicated Swiftie buying Taylor Swift’s merchandise and traveling long-distance to concerts — except that passion can be applied to almost anyone, real or fictional.

Sanrio chief executive officer Tomokuni Tsuji told the Nikkei that while consumers once used only disposable income on oshikatsu and entertainment, it has now become a separate spending category — one unaffected by rising prices. One survey found that a majority of respondents said inflation or the weak yen had no impact whatsoever on their spending in the category, unlike other categories.

A market where raising prices do not affect demand is a capitalist’s dream. It is one that industry research estimates at ￥3.5 trillion (US$22.5 billion). About 10 percent of the Japanese population engages in oshikatsu, but importantly, more than 50 percent are those crucial arbiters of cool — teenage girls. That even has the central bank on notice: Since last year, it has highlighted the activity in its quarterly Sakura report on regional economies, with one branch noting that “even as prices are being raised, merchandise sales are performing well, supported by strong oshikatsu demand.”

Perhaps you are having a hard time understanding what it actually entails. Oshi means your favorite — if you are a fan of BTS, that might be V; if you are a fan of Manchester United, your oshi might be Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes — but it does not even have to be a real person, it can be an anime character, a virtual YouTuber or even a long-dead historical figure.

Katsu means “activity” and can be appended to almost any noun, such as shuukatsu, “work activity,” such as looking for a job typically as a college student. Put them together and you have got activities for your favorite, doing things to support the one you stan (that is Gen Z slang for excessively enthusiastic fans).

The term grew out of the otaku nerd culture surrounding idol groups such as AKB48 in the late 2000s, with fans buying multiple copies of the same CD to improve their favorite’s chances in annual votes to choose which members got the spotlight, but that carries with it a certain air of unhealthy obsession.

Natsuho Tada, founder and chief executive officer of Oshicoco, a company that supports and analyzes fan culture, explains that during the COVID-19 pandemic the word came to describe something more mainstream and socially acceptable, as people started spending on collectibles and turning to virtual communities. It also involves a certain level of altruism and evangelizing — the key point is that you are doing it for the sake of your oshi and to help promote them, not yourself (she herself stans Thai actors.)

Indeed, there can also be a vicarious, almost parasocial aspect, projecting one’s own ambitions onto your idol.

“Everybody wants to be Shohei Ohtani, but you can’t just become like him, but you can entrust your dreams to him and by supporting him, feel as if you’re sharing in those things you wanted to do, but couldn’t,” Tada said.

Spending can take many forms — not just buying branded goods, but also owning the same things as your favorite — think of how the Labubu trend grew after Lisa from the K-pop band Blackpink was spotted sporting the doll. Fans are also willing to travel, whether to see a performance or visit real-life locations where anime or games are set. That is one reason the Bank of Japan is interested: An activity that is not only immune to inflation, but also boosts regional economies is like the Holy Grail for the Japanese economy. Areas that can nimbly jump on this trend would benefit.

Despite the usual complaints that Gen Z have no money, Tada said that they are swapping the exorbitant expenses of past generations, like cars and fancy watches, for experiences. That is in line with youth trends seen elsewhere, with a focus on collectibles, heavily influenced by the growth of Instagram and Tiktok, and the formative experiences of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it is not just Gen Z, companies are now targeting older generations, who have more money to spend, and as I researched the topic, I started to wonder if perhaps we are all doing oshikatsu, too. When I pay over the odds to watch my favorite boxer Naoya Inoue or buy his merchandise, is that not the same thing? The only reason I have ever been to Yokosuka, a city overlooking Tokyo Bay that houses a US naval base, was because it is the location of the classic video game Shenmue.

Perhaps we can go even more abstract: Tada agreed when I put it to her that my visits to far-flung craft beer breweries, and telling other people about them, could also count.

Perhaps, then, we are all doing oshikatsu. After all, while inflation might be the biggest worry, some things are not optional.

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.


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HK responds to fire differently from PRC, but gulf is narrowingIndependent inquiry into fire and media questions to leader would not happen in mainland China, but crackdown on dissent has begun

As Hong Kong mourns the victims of its worst fire in decades, the response to the disaster reveals the ways in which the territory retains differences from mainland China — and how some of those differences are being eroded.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (李家超) on Tuesday announced the creation of an “independent committee” to investigate the blaze, which killed 159 people at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in the New Territories.

Hong Kong has a tradition of independent, judge-led inquiries into disasters, something that would never happen in mainland China, where the judiciary is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and public discussion of tragedies is tightly controlled, but since the crackdown after the 2019 and 2020 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, including the implementation of two national security laws, many legal experts believe Hong Kong’s judiciary is no longer independent.

Jonathan Sumption, a former British Supreme Court justice, wrote last year as he resigned from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal: “The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly.”

It is safe to assume that Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades, which appears to have followed months of complaints from residents about the potential flammability of materials used in construction, is something that the government would feel strongly about. Authorities have already arrested 13 people, including several from a construction company, on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the blaze. No official has yet taken responsibility for the tragedy.

The death toll from the fire is to loom over Legislative Council elections on Sunday, Hong Kong’s equivalent of a general election, but where in previous years there was feisty campaigning from different political parties and a rowdy public debate between candidates, this year, for the second time since the pro-democracy protests, it is to be a “patriots only” affair, with only government-approved candidates being allowed to stand.

“Having eliminated all opposition parties, the government no longer fears that a large number of candidates could win seats in the Legislative Council who want to challenge the status quo and might raise embarrassing questions during debates over bills backed by the chief executive,” said Jeffrey Wasserstrom, the chancellor’s professor of history at University of California, Irvine and author of Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink. “What it does worry about now is something else that can be embarrassing: a small turnout.”

In 2021, the first time that the elections were held under the “patriots only” policy, turnout hit a record low of 30.2 percent. In 2016, turnout was 58.3 percent.

Refusing to vote is one of the only ways that Hong Kongers can safely voice their dissent against the government as other forms of protest have been criminalized.

Last weekend, Miles Kwan (關靖豐), a student, was arrested over a petition that demanded accountability from the government over the fire. Local media reported that two other people had been arrested.

“Before the national security law, there wouldn’t be any repercussions for people just for speaking out,” Wasserstrom said.

In mainland China there are not any kinds of major elections — patriots-only or otherwise — that citizens can boycott.

It is also impossible to imagine Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) participating in an unscripted news conference like the one Lee held on Tuesday.

A journalist asked: “You have spoken about leading Hong Kong from chaos to order and from order to prosperity, and yet this prosperous society allowed 151 people to burn to death. Can you tell us why you deserve to keep your job?”

Such a question would never reach the ears of Xi at a public forum.

Similarly, although Hong Kong’s national security laws have done a lot to muzzle independent media, there is still a vastly more open information landscape than in mainland China, in part because Hong Kong does not block Western social media platforms and Google.

An article published in Chinese media last week about the “hidden dangers” of cities in mainland China following in the footsteps of Hong Kong’s high-density housing model was scrubbed from the Internet.

The most direct comparison to a tragedy in mainland China is the Urumqi apartment fire in 2022, which killed at least nine people and sparked massive protests across China against the harsh zero-COVID-19 measures in place at the time, which were believed to have prevented people from leaving the building. Those protests, which became known as the White Paper movement, spiraled into one of the biggest challenges to CCP rule since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, more than 30 years earlier.

The Chinese government has tried to erase the 2022 and 1989 protests from public memory. The authorities would try to do the same in Hong Kong, but are unlikely to be as successful.

Additional research by Lillian Yang


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IN-HOUSE BUSINESS:  LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them

Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season.

The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said.

Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Chris Paul goes to the hoop for the LA Clippers during their NBA game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center in Miami on Monday. Photo: AFP

Frank did not confirm speculation that Paul and Clippers coach Tyronn Lue have been clashing or not speaking to one another, saying that the decision had multiple layers.

Frank also insisted that Lue is safe in his role, despite the Clippers’ dismal start to this season.

They improved to 6-16 with a 115-92 win over the Hawks on Wednesday.

“This decision had nothing to do with one incident, one meeting that did or did not happen,” Frank said in a video conference with reporters. “Some of our business, respectfully, I have to keep in house, but this didn’t come down to one incident or one meeting. It just wasn’t the right fit.”

Paul made the announcement on social media shortly before 3am on Wednesday, posting “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home” and adding a peace emoji.

Clippers star James Harden said he learned of the news when he woke up on Wednesday.

His reaction was “definitely surprised,” he said.

“Not just Chris, it’s a lot that we’re dealing with,” Harden said. “So, that right there is out of my hands.”

“Because of the nature of the conversation it was a long, long, long, long, long, long meeting,” Frank said.

The 40-year-old Paul is playing his 21st NBA season and he strongly hinted last month that it would be his last.

The 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist has earned four All-NBA first-team selections and he ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists. He was the first player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists; LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have both since done that as well.

“I don’t think it will necessarily help our team,” Lue said before the game in Atlanta. “I don’t think the reason why we’re 5-16 is because of C.P. I just think that it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for.”

“Do I want to see people go out like this? No, I have a lot of respect for him,” Lue added. “He’s been a friend of mine over the years, and you don’t want to see a great go out like this, but I’m pretty sure he will find something, because he’s a great player.”

On the court, Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined to score 48 points to help visiting Los Angeles end their five-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.

Harden scored 27 points, including five three-pointers, with nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Leonard scored 21 points with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Ivica Zubac scored 14 points and added 17 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season.

The Hawks were led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 21 points and Dyson Daniels with 15 points.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:

‧ Pacers 120, Nuggets 135

‧ Cavaliers 110, Trail Blazers 122

‧ Bulls 103, Nets 113

‧ Knicks 119, Hornets 104

‧ Bucks 113, Pistons 109

‧ Magic 112, Spurs 114

‧ Rockets 121, Kings 95

‧ Mavericks 118, Heat 108

title: Chris Paul’s return to Clippers ends


title: Arsenal regain 5-point Premier League cushion

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There was another win for Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday, but more misery for Liverpool and their under-fire manager, Arne Slot.

While Arsenal accelerated their title charge with a 2-0 victory over Brentford to regain a five-point lead, Liverpool needed a late own-goal just to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sunderland AFC at Anfield.

Slot is back under pressure, with his team languishing in eighth place in a disappointing title defense and his decision to leave star forward Mohamed Salah out of the starting lineup for a second straight game likely to be heavily scrutinized.

Arsenal’s Noni Madueke controls the ball during their Premier League match against Brentford at Emirates Stadium in London on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

“It’s clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result,” Slot said.

Arguably a bigger shock came at Elland Road, where Chelsea fell to a 3-1 loss to Leeds United in a blow to their hopes of challenging for the title.

Chelsea dropped to fourth place and nine points adrift of Arsenal, who stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches and are looking good for a first league title since 2004.

Arsenal’s strength in depth was on show in the comfortable win over Brentford that maintained the team’s unbeaten record at Emirates Stadium this season.

The leaders were without first-choice centerbacks Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba because of injury, while manager Mikel Arteta started stars Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze on the bench.

Two of the back-ups combined for the 11th-minute opener, as Mikel Merino headed in Ben White’s cross before Saka came on as a substitute and scored the second goal with a shot that crawled over the line in stoppage-time.

Injuries are mounting for Arteta, though — especially at centerback. Cristhian Mosquera has been filling in for Saliba, but also faces a spell out after limping off late in the first half. Midfielder Declan Rice was withdrawn with a suspected calf problem in the 83rd minute.

With Arsenal in the middle of a run of games every three or four days, Arteta called on soccer authorities to think of players’ welfare.

“Rest? That’s quite a positive word to use,” Arteta said of his team selection. “We had to make some changes. We can play minutes, but if they [soccer officials] can please give us just a little more time to recover and to make the welfare of these players a little bit easier, that would be great.”

Manchester City were Arsenal’s closest challenger after their 5-4 against Fulham in a wild match.

Florian Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal for Liverpool since his off-season move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with his shot for the 81st-minute equalizer deflecting off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele and spinning into the net for what officially went down as an own-goal.

Sunderland, who were in sixth place on their return to the top flight and defying most pundits’ pre-campaign expectations, benefitted from a deflection to take the lead in the 67th minute. Chemsdine Talbi’s long-range effort hit Virgil van Dijk on the leg and ricocheted into the far corner beyond Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had little to cheer in the loss against Leeds.

“A very poor night,” Maresca said. Leeds “deserved to win the game, they were better in all aspects.”

Leeds led 2-0 at halftime following goals by Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka. Pedro Neto reduced the deficit in the 50th minute, but a defensive mistake by Tosin Adarabioyo led to Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapping in to make it 3-1.

Last-place Wolverhampton Wolves remained without a win this campaign after losing 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest thanks to a second-half goal by Brazilian striker Igor Jesus. After 14 rounds, Wolves have just two points.

Aston Villa came from 2-0 down to win 4-3 against Brighton & Hove Albion, while Crystal Palace beat Burnley 1-0 thanks to Colombia wing back Daniel Munoz’s goal.

Manchester United were to play West Ham United after press time last night.

Additional reporting by staff writer


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Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga.

Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday.

Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe scores during their La Liga match against Athletic Club at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in all competitions.

“It was important, after three away draws, to get back to winning on the road,” Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said. “The team came out to play and win the match from the first minute, with good focus, intensity and rhythm. It was probably our best match this season.”

“Kylian is going through a great moment,” Alonso said. “He scored two great goals and moved well. His connection with Vini [Vinicius Junior] was very nice.”

Mbappe scored his first goal in a breakaway in the seventh minute, picking up the ball near midfield and clearing a couple of defenders during his run before finding the net from the edge of the area.

Camavinga added to the lead with a header from close range in the 42nd minute after an assist by Mbappe, and the France international got his second goal with a nice shot from nearly 30m out in the 59th minute.

“At times I think to myself: ‘How lucky I am to have him on my team and not have to face him, except maybe against France,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, a Belgium international. “He’s unstoppable, we really enjoy watching him play.”

title: Mbappe double leads Real Madrid


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India are all in a spin after losing a scarcely believable 20 coin tosses in a row in ODIs — at odds of more than 1 million-to-one.

Stand-in captain K.L. Rahul said that he was flummoxed at the run of bad luck that goes all the way back to the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad, India, when Rohit Sharma was in charge.

“I’ve been practicing, but clearly it’s not working,” Rahul said after losing the flip again in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday.

India K.L. Rahul, left, and South African captain Temba Bavuma shake hands after their ODI match at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur on Wednesday. South Africa won by four wickets to make the series 1-1. Photo: AFP

The odds against losing 20 consecutive coin tosses are 1,048,576-to-one, a statistical anomaly that Rahul wants to end in the third and final ODI in Visakhapatnam tomorrow.

“Honestly, that’s the most pressure I’ve had because we haven’t won a toss in a long time,” Rahul said after seeing opposite number Temba Bavuma call correctly.

Three India captains — Rohit, regular ODI skipper Shubman Gill and Rahul — have all tried and failed to win a toss since the last correct call against New Zealand on Nov. 15, 2023, in the World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.

“Rahul said that he’d been practicing, but how do you know what the opposition captain is going to call?” batting great Sunil Gavaskar told broadcaster JioStar. “Because you know, for the first game [against South Africa], it was Aiden Markram who was captain. So Markram might be a person who likes opting for heads and Temba Bavuma might be a captain who likes to opt for tails.”

Former South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn said that Faf du Plessis once asked Bavuma to toss for him after a lengthy losing sequence.

“It’s the first time I have ever seen a captain ask one of the other players to come and do a toss,” Steyn said. “Temba also lost that toss.”

title: India hope to end million-to-one losing toss oddity


title: SPORTS BRIEFS

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CRICKET

Starc surpasses Akram

Australia veteran Mitchell Starc yesterday became the most prolific left-arm paceman in Test history, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram. The 35-year-old bagged England’s Harry Brook at the Gabba in Brisbane on day 1 of the day-night second Ashes Test for his 415th wicket since his debut at the same ground 14 years ago. It moved him past Akram, widely recognized as the greatest left-arm bowler the sport has seen. Akram played 104 Tests for his 414 wickets with Starc reaching the milestone in his 102nd, helped by a career-best 7-58 in the first innings of the opening Ashes Test at Perth. Starc is now 16th on the all-time wicket-takers list and could move above India’s Harbhajan Singh (417) and South Africa’s Shaun Pollock (421) in the pink-ball Test. After that he will have New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee (431) in his sights. England were 325-9 at stumps, with Joe Root on 135 not out.

CRICKET

Latham, Ravindra hit tons

Big centuries by Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra yesterday put New Zealand firmly in control of the first Test against the West Indies with a lead of 481 at stumps on day 3 in Christchurch. The pair put on 279 for the third wicket before Latham was out for 145. Ravindra followed soon after for 176. At stumps, Will Young was 21, Michael Bracewell was on six and New Zealand were 417-4 to go with their 64-run first innings lead.

SOCCER

SSC Napoli advance

SSC Napoli on Wednesday advanced to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia by winning a lengthy penalty shootout against Cagliari following a 1-1 draw in regular-time. Antonio Conte’s team eventually prevailed 9-8 on penalties with Mattia Felici hitting the crossbar with his spot-kick for Cagliari and Zito Luvumbo having his saved by Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The match had finished 1-1 after Lorenzo Lucca’s first-half header for Napoli was canceled out by Sebastiano Esposito in the 67th minute. Napoli face either ACF Fiorentina or Como 1907 in the quarter-finals. Inter also moved into the last eight with a crushing 5-1 victory over Venezia — the last Serie B team in the competition. Inter next race either AS Roma or Torino.

SOCCER

Harry Kane guides Bayern

Harry Kane on Wednesday scored his 25th Bayern Munich goal of the season and gave away a penalty as he led his team to the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over Union Berlin. Bayern took the lead with an own-goal for Union’s Ilyas Ansah before Kane headed in Bayern’s second from a corner in the 23rd minute. A handball by Bayern defender Jonathan Tah allowed Leopold Querfeld to get his side back into the game with a penalty before another own-goal, this time by Diogo Leite, restored Bayern’s two-goal lead. Querfeld scored from the spot again when the referee judged Kane had used his elbow while jumping for the ball. Elsewhere, VfB Stuttgart beat VfL Bochum 1848 2-0, SC Freiburg beat second-division SV Darmstadt 98 2-0 and Holstein Kiel from the second division upset top-tier Hamburger SV 4-2 on penalties after regular play ended in a 1-1 draw.


content_text: Brazil’s Bruna de Paula, center, looks to score during their IHF Women’s Handball World Championship match against South Korea at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday. Brazil won the Group IV encounter 32-25. The final is scheduled for Sunday next week.

title: Leap and look


content_text:
MORE SCRUTINY:  US lawmakers were also seeking a full accounting of a US strike near Venezuela in which Hegseth reportedly directed an admiral to ‘kill everybody’

The Pentagon’s independent watchdog said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of commercial messaging app Signal to discuss strikes on Yemen could have put US troops at risk, US media reported on Wednesday.

However, the probe by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General concluded that Hegseth did not violate rules on classification because he has the authority to declassify information, the reports said, citing sources familiar with results of the investigation.

The watchdog’s conclusion — which has been transmitted to the US Congress — is nonetheless likely to reignite debate over conduct by Hegseth, who is already under fire over US strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats that experts say amount to extrajudicial killings.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, speaks during a Cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

The probe was sparked by the Atlantic magazine’s revelation in late March that its editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal chat in which US officials, including Hegseth and then-national security adviser Mike Waltz, discussed strikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The magazine initially withheld the details the officials discussed, but later published them after the White House insisted that no classified information was shared and attacked the editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, as a liar.

The chat included messages in which Hegseth revealed the timing of strikes hours before they happened and information on aircraft and missiles involved, while Waltz sent real-time intelligence on the aftermath of the military action.

In a post on X late on Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the review “a TOTAL exoneration of Secretary Hegseth.”

The Atlantic said that Waltz had set some of the Signal messages to disappear after one week, and others after four, saying it raised questions about whether federal records law was violated.

US media reported in April that Hegseth had created a second Signal chat in which the March Yemen strikes were discussed with people including his wife and brother, but the Pentagon chief likewise weathered that storm and remained in office.

Meanwhile, the US Navy admiral who reportedly issued orders for the US military to fire upon survivors of an attack on an alleged drug boat was yesterday expected to provide a classified briefing to top congressional lawmakers overseeing national security.

The information from Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who is now the commander of US Special Operations Command, comes at a potentially crucial moment in the unfolding congressional investigation into how Hegseth handled the military operation in international waters near Venezuela. There are mounting questions over whether the strike violated the law.

Lawmakers are seeking a full accounting of the strikes after the Washington Post reported that Bradley on Sept. 2 ordered an attack on two survivors to comply with Hegseth’s directive to “kill everybody.”

Legal experts said the incident amounts to a crime if the survivors were targeted, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding accountability.

Bradley was to speak to a handful of top congressional leaders, including the Republican chairs and ranking Democrats of the US House of Representatives and Senate committees on armed services, and separately to the Republican chairman and Democratic vice chairman of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“This is an incredibly serious matter. This is about the safety of our troops. This is an incident that could expose members of our armed services to legal consequences,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Wednesday. “And yet the American public and the Congress are still not hearing basic facts.”

Additional reporting by AP

title: Hegseth’s Signal use posed risk: report


title: White House orders enhanced vetting for H-1Bs

content_text:
STRICT:  A cable sent to all missions called for reviews of applicants’ resumes to see if they worked in areas such as content moderation, fact-checking and online safety

US President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday announced increased vetting of applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, with an internal US Department of State memo saying that anyone involved in “censorship” of free speech be considered for rejection.

H-1B visas, which allow US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty fields, are crucial for US tech companies, which recruit heavily from countries including India and China. Many of the companies’ leaders threw their support behind Trump in the last presidential election.

The cable, sent on Tuesday to all US missions, orders US consular officers to review resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants — and family members who would be traveling with them — to see if they have worked in areas that include activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office in Washington on June 27. Photo: AP

“If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible,” under a specific article of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the cable said.

Details on the enhanced vetting for H-1B visas, including the focus on censorship and free speech, have not been previously reported.

The cable said that all visa applicants were subject to this policy, but sought a heightened review for the H-1B applicants, as they frequently worked in the technology sector “including in social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression.”

“You must thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities,” the cable said.

The new vetting requirements apply to new and repeat applicants.

“We do not support aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans,” a state department spokesperson said, adding that it does not comment on “allegedly leaked documents.”

“In the past, the president himself was the victim of this kind of abuse when social media companies locked his accounts. He does not want other Americans to suffer this way. Allowing foreigners to lead this type of censorship would both insult and injure the American people,” the spokesperson said.

The Trump administration has made free speech, particularly what it sees as the stifling of conservative voices online, a focus of its foreign policy.


content_text:
The pledge by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “work, work, work, work and work” for her country has been named the catchphrase of the year, recognizing the effort Japan’s first female leader had to make to reach the top.

Takaichi uttered the phrase in October when she was elected as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Many were initially as worried about her work ethic as supportive of her enthusiasm.

In a country notorious for long working hours, especially for working women who are also burdened with homemaking and caregiving, overwork is a sensitive topic. The recognition triggered a mixed reaction, with some interpreting it as satire, while lawyers representing people who have died from karoshi —death from overwork — described her words as unhelpful.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 21. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Accepting her award from a private committee this week, Takaichi said she only wanted to stress her enthusiasm.

“I have no intention of encouraging other people to overwork, or suggesting long working hours as a virtue,” Takaichi said. “I hope there is no misunderstanding.”

The organizers of the annual award said the short list had included other phrases that best captured Japan’s zeitgeist this year: “First female prime minister” was the second most popular; others included “Trump’s tariffs,” “bear damage” and “old, old, old rice” — a reference to the release of stockpiled grain from the 2021 crop in an attempt to rein in soaring prices.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds her award during a ceremony in Tokyo on Monday, after her phrase “I will work, work, work, work and keep working” was selected as the Grand Prize winner of the 2025 New Words and Buzzwords Awards. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

A committee picks the winning phrase from a short-listed top 10, which came from a provisional list from the publisher of Japan’s Yearbook of Contemporary Society.

Takaichi is the fourth politician to have received the award. The last, Yukio Hatoyama, won in 2009 for “change of government,” after his party ousted the LDP from office for only the second time since the mid-1950s.

As the nation’s first female prime minister, Takaichi has captured public attention for her workwear, with women scrambling to copy her style, and the interest has not worn off.

While her dress sense has won admiration from younger women who say they are “Sana-katsu,” or rooting for Sanae, it is unclear if her hardline conservative policies would win the same praise.

During her speech to party members Oct. 4 she promised an all-out effort to rebuild the struggling LDP and regain public support, urging lawmakers to “work like a horse.”

Then she added: “I will abandon the idea of a ‘work-life balance’ — I will work, work, work, work and work.”

Repeating the word “work” in a low, determined voice left a strong impression at the time.

Takaichi’s apparent long working hours and lack of sleep have worried fellow lawmakers. She held a meeting with aides at 3am before the first day of parliament on Nov. 7, although she has not started that early since.

“I sleep about two hours now, four hours at the longest,” Takaichi, who also provides care for her husband who is recovering from a stroke, told lawmakers at a budget committee meeting last month. “It’s probably bad for my skin.”

She said she likes to soak in a hot tub in the morning and at night to relax.

“That’s my blissful time,” she said.

The attention Takaichi is receiving is usually reserved for pop stars, athletes and influencers in Japan who fans have access to only through television or the internet.

The prime minister’s fans show their loyalty by buying the same bag and pen she uses, just as fans of star athletes such as Shohei Ohtani buy replicas of his uniform to cheer on the Dodgers, experts said.

Takaichi has won admiration as a new type of role model for women who have not usually rooted for prime ministers in the past, said Namiko Kubo-Kawai, a psychology professor at Nagoya Shukutoku University.

In Japan, many female role models typically were supported for their femininity, but Takaichi is unique as a high-powered politician. Her short haircut and no-frills workwear also stand out from conventional female models.

However, she might not inspire many feminists. Takaichi is a staunch conservative who champions Japan’s traditional gender and paternalistic values.

Sill, as the first female prime minister, “she fits perfectly as a stylish role model and has won admiration from many women who have been looking for one, even though they probably have never thought of rooting for a prime minister,” Kubo-Kawai said. “Female role models are becoming more diverse.”

title: Takaichi’s ‘work’ mantra’ wins catchphrase of year


title: Satellite surge threatens space telescopes

content_text:
Light from 560,000 satellites that humanity is planning to launch into Earth’s orbit in the coming years could contaminate almost all the images taken by space telescopes, NASA astronomers warned on Wednesday.

Scientists have already been sounding the alarm about how light pollution from increasingly massive satellites threaten the future of dark skies seen from the ground.

A study published in the journal Nature is the first to estimate how the immense number of planned satellites could stray into the view of nearby telescopes attempting to probe the universe.

An image shows a simulation of how lights from satellites contaminate images taken by space telescopes. Photo: NASA / Borlaff, Marcum, Howell (Nature, 2025) / AFP

Since 2019, the number of satellites in low Earth orbit has skyrocketed from about 2,000 to 15,000, according to the study — many of them part of billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet constellation.

That is a drop in the bucket compared with what is coming.

If all of the plans filed to regulators launch into space, there would be 560,000 satellites orbiting Earth by the end of the 2030s, the study said.

That poses “a very severe threat” to space telescopes, said the study’s lead author, Alejandro Borlaff of the NASA Ames Research Center in California.

“To give an idea of how much this number increased recently, we have launched more satellites to low Earth orbit in the last four years — 2021 to 2025 — than in the previous seven decades of space flight combined,” Borlaff said.

For the research, the astronomers simulated how the 560,000 satellites would affect four space telescopes.

Reflected light from the satellites would affect 96 percent of all images taken by NASA’s SPHEREx telescope, the European Space Agency’s planned ARRAKIHS telescope and China’s planned Xuntian telescope, the study found.

The Hubble Space Telescope, which is less likely to snap a satellite as it takes in a narrower view of the universe, would have one-third of its images tainted.

That could affect all sorts of scientific endeavors.

“Imagine that you are trying to find asteroids that may be potentially harmful for Earth,” Borlaff said.

An asteroid streaking through the sky “looks exactly like a satellite ... it’s really hard to figure out which one is the bad one,” he added.

Some space telescopes, such as the famous James Webb Space Telescope, are unaffected because they are hovering at a stable spot 1.5 million kilometers from Earth called the second Lagrange point.

One solution could be to deploy satellites at lower altitudes than space telescopes, but that could potentially deplete Earth’s ozone layer, the study said.

The most straightforward solution might just be to launch fewer satellites, but competition from rival satellite Internet companies — and the surging needs of an artificial intelligence (AI) boom — make that unlikely.

Nearly three-quarters of the satellites in orbit are part of Musk’s Starlink network, Borlaff said.

However, Starlink is expected to represent just 10 percent of all satellites in a couple of decades as competition blasts off, the study said.

Another problem is that satellites are getting much bigger.

To the naked eye, satellites that are 100m2 in size are “as bright as the brightest star that you can see in the sky,” Borlaff said.

However, to handle AI’s data requirements, there are plans to build ones 3km2 wide.

Such giants could be “as bright as a planet,” Borlaff added.

Additional reporting by Reuters


title: Seal galumphs into bar, sparking rush for salmon

content_text:
A seal walked into a bar — or to use a technical term, it galumphed.

The creature was apparently lost, curious and well below New Zealand ’s legal drinking age. It lodged itself under the dishwasher and showed no interest in calling a cab.

It was a wet, lazy Sunday evening when the baby fur seal waddled into the Sprig + Fern The Meadows craft beer bar in Richmond, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Accustomed to seeing animals in the pet-friendly bar, co-owner Bella Evans assumed the visitor was a dog before she took a closer look.

People watch as a seal enters a bar in Richmond, New Zealand, on Sunday. Photo: Sprig + Fern The Meadows via AP

“Everyone was in shock,” Evans said. “Oh my gosh. What do we do? What’s going on?”

A patron grabbed a sweater and tried to usher the seal out of the back door. Evading its pursuers, the creature dashed into a restroom and then hid under the dishwasher, which was swiftly unplugged.

Another customer fetched a dog crate from home, and Evans made a plan to lure the unruly visitor out of its hiding place using a pizza topping the pub was offering as a special.

“I just went to my fiance, I said: ‘Grab the salmon. Grab the salmon,’” she said.

Then it was a brief wait for conservation rangers to arrive. It turned out they were already tracking the wandering seal.

“It was their fourth call for the day,” Evans said. “They had been driving around this new-build subdivision trying to find this baby seal.”

The New Zealand Department of Conservation confirmed it received “numerous” reports from the public about a seal spotted in Richmond on Sunday before the fugitive turned up at the pub.

Bar staff “did a great job keeping the seal safe” until rangers arrived, department spokeswoman Helen Otley.

The seal was released on nearby Rabbit Island, considered a safe location because of its dog-free status, Otley said.

It is not unusual for curious young seals to show up in unexpected places at this time of year, as they follow rivers and streams up to 15km inland, she said.

“They can turn up in unusual places, like this pub, but this is normal exploratory behavior,” she added.

Scientists refer to an annual “silly season” for both seals and sea lions, a period of months during which they regularly appear in strange places — houses, golf courses or busy roads.

Evans, who has owned the pub with her partner for just a few months, said the baby fur seal was the first unruly patron she has had to evict.

Nevertheless, the animal, named Fern by staff, was welcome back, she said.

“There’s been the running joke that we’ve got the seal of approval,” she said.

Salmon will remain on the menu.


content_text:
ISRAEL

`Thai’s remains returned

Remains that militants in Gaza handed to Israel as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal were those of a Thai agricultural worker, Israeli and Thai officials said yesterday. The return of Sudthisak Rinthalak’s remains leaves just one more hostage to be returned under the agreement. Officials said the 42-year-old Thai was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack that triggered the war in Gaza. He was officially declared dead on May 16 last year. Sudthisak’s remains were returned on Wednesday, a day after militants handed over remains that did not match either of the last two hostages. Israeli police officer Ran Gvili is the last hostage whose remains have yet to be returned.

Sudthisak Rinthalak, an agricultural worker from Thailand who was abducted and brought to Gaza in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP

UNITED STATES

China sanctions halted

Washington has halted plans to impose sanctions on the Chinese Ministry of State Security over a massive cyberspying campaign to avoid derailing a trade truce struck by both countries this year, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Chinese-linked hackers had targeted a host of US and global telecommunications companies and a state’s Army National Guard network in a wide-ranging and years-long cyberespionage campaign tracked as Salt Typhoon. President Donald Trump’s administration would also not enact major new export controls against China, the report said, citing several US officials and others familiar with the situation.

MOLDOVA

Drone mistaken for toy

Police on Wednesday deployed bomb disposal experts to a community miles from the Ukrainian border after a resident mistook a grounded drone for “a toy” and took it home. When police arrived in Pepeni in Singerei District, they discovered that the drone found four days earlier had already been stripped of its parts. Police said the drone did not contain explosives or pose a danger, and urged the public to “not touch or attempt to transport fallen drones or similar objects.” Authorities did not say where it came from. They said it was a Gerbera-type drone that Russia has used in Ukraine. “A citizen thought it was a toy ... and brought it into the locality of Pepeni,” Mayor Oleg Cernei said in a video. “As soon as it appeared within the boundaries of the commune, I identified the person and informed the state institutions.”

NEW ZEALAND

Thief swallows Faberge egg

A thief with expensive taste has been arrested after snatching and swallowing a diamond-encrusted Faberge egg from a high-end jewelry store. The 32-year-old gulped down the egg late last week from a store in Auckland, but was arrested before he could flee. Police on Wednesday said they were yet to recover the ornate trinket — valued at about US$20,000 — but had assigned an officer to watch over the man while waiting for nature to take its course. “At the time of his arrest he underwent a medical assessment, and an officer is assigned to constantly monitor the man,” Inspector Grae Anderson said in a statement. The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film Octopussy, which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg. “The egg opens to reveal an 18ct yellow gold octopus nestled inside, adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes,” an item description said. “The octopus surprise pays homage to the eponymous antagonist at the center of the Octopussy film.” Time and digestion will tell if another octopus surprise is forthcoming.

title: World News Quick Take


content_text: A council worker mops the floor inside a kaleidoscope tunnel at a winter lights Christmas installation in Dublin on Wednesday.

title: Tunnel of light


content_text:
Senegal baskets are hot, but women weavers ask, where’s the money?Senegalese-style woven baskets are popular in the US and Europe, but middlemen and knock-offs threaten the livelihoods of local workers in Senegalese villages

Under the shade of a large mango tree in her sandy courtyard in a village in northwest Senegal, Khady Sene rhythmically threads together reeds, the beginning of a new basket.

She and nearly a dozen other women have gathered as they do many afternoons to weave in a style passed down from mother to daughter for generations.

While the women of Mborine village rarely leave this corner of Senegal, their popular creations travel in much wider circles, having become trendy in places like the US or France.

Flip over the tag on a Senegalese-style basket in a Western box store, however, and it very well might have been made in Vietnam, a large exporter of knockoffs. Meanwhile, the price for authentic handmade Senegalese baskets can be astronomical abroad, with little of the markup going to the weavers.

A specialty of a constellation of Wolof villages in the country’s northwest, the baskets consist of coiled reeds bound by colorful plastic strips, which in the olden days were palm fibers.

“I’ve been doing this work since I was born,” Sene said from her courtyard, as farm animals bleated beyond her compound’s cinderblock walls.

The women can produce everything from winnowing baskets to large laundry-style hampers, which are sold domestically at endless roadside stalls and at markets around Dakar.

But “those who come to the market buy them at ridiculously low prices that don’t even allow us to cover our costs,” the 35-year-old mother said.

While a large laundry-style basket might sell for 13,000 CFA francs (US$23) at a market after passing through a middleman, those exported abroad go for well over US$150.

For a craft imbued with so much national identity, Sene said she hopes authorities will create conditions that better support the artisans “so we can make a living from this work.”

MASS-MARKET APPEAL

In 2017 Fatima Jobe, a Gambian-Senegalese architect, was vacationing in Vietnam where she was shocked to stumble across a wholesaler who said he was the world’s largest exporter of Senegalese-style baskets — ones made in Asia.

Already having worked with the Senegalese weaving community, Jobe was spurred into action.

“There are all these wonderful weavers who are ready to work,” Jobe said, referencing the dozens of villages in Senegal’s basket-making belt.

Fast-forward several years and Jobe is the owner of Imadi, a well-known Dakar basket shop that works with more than 260 women, including Sene, across 15 villages.

The baskets in her store are largely her designs: often in subdued colors and trimmed in leather. Some are traditional, such as the winnowing basket, or layu, while others are new innovations.

Jobe currently takes no salary from Imadi, working a day job instead. But her aim is one day to do so.

She has set up a higher pay structure, bans children from working and has used profits to benefit village schools. She delivers raw materials directly to the women, then transports the baskets away, cutting the need for them to waste time at markets.

Those like Jobe “who pays us fairly for our efforts,” are “rare,” Sene said.

A testament to the baskets’ popularity, US retailer Anthropologie began selling one of Jobe’s several years ago, which she later spotted on an episode of popular US reality show Selling Sunset.

“I just was screaming in my living room forever,” Jobe said.

Despite her baskets’ mass-market appeal, Jobe said Senegal lacks the infrastructure and support to compete with major exporters in Vietnam.

LOW PRICES

In a stall along a dusty two-lane highway outside the town of Ndiakhate Ndiassane, some 30 kilometres from Mborine, Fatim Ndoye sells baskets in a kaleidoscope of colors and sizes, often to tourists.

She purchases the baskets at a Monday market from local women: “In my opinion, baskets sell for ridiculously low prices in Senegal,” she said, explaining she might only sell 3,000 CFA francs (US$5) worth of baskets on a weekday and 10,000 on the weekend.

Despite small margins, the mere ability to earn counts for something, with many having fled Senegal in recent years due to economic insecurity.

In the village of Thiembe, 49-year-old widow Adama Fall supports her family working as a coordinator for Imadi and weaver of the largest type of baskets, which she can make three of per week.

She does not take the employment for granted: Several young men from Thiembe have left Senegal in pirogue canoes via the perilous Atlantic route, including four “whom we haven’t heard from in five years.”

Nearby in her courtyard, her youngest daughter plays with a group of children.

Rattling around in their midst are a few coarsely woven baskets they have fabricated: stitching off, bits of plastic splayed, but containing the knowledge of generations before them.


content_text:
How a sperm bank for cheetahs might one day save the fastest land animalA zoologist in Namibia is creating a ‘frozen zoo’ that could act as a last resort in conservation of the world’s fast-diminishing population of cheetahs

For 35 years, American zoologist Laurie Marker has been collecting and storing specimens in a cheetah sperm bank in Namibia, hoping conservationists never have to use them.

But she worries that the world’s fastest land animal might be on the brink of extinction one day and need artificial reproduction to save it.

Marker says the sperm bank at the Cheetah Conservation Fund she founded in the southern African nation is a “frozen zoo” of cheetahs she’s been building since 1990. It would be utilized in a worst-case scenario for the big cats, whose numbers have dropped alarmingly in the wild over the last 50 years.

A cheetah cub rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade on Aug. 14 receives treatment at the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre in Geed-Deeble on the outskirts of Hargeisa, Somaliland. Photo: AP

“You don’t do anything with it unless until it’s needed,” Marker, one of the foremost experts on cheetahs, said at her research center near the Namibian city of Otjiwarongo. “And we never want to get to that point.”

Conservationists mark World Cheetah Day on Thursday with less than 7,000 of them left in the wild, similar numbers to the critically endangered black rhino. There are only around 33 populations of cheetahs spread out in pockets mainly across Africa, with most of those populations having less than 100 animals, Marker said.

Like so many species, the sleek cats that can run at speeds of 112 kilometers per hour are in danger from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and the illegal animal trade. Their shrinking, isolated groups mean their gene pool is shrinking also as small populations continuously breed among themselves, with repercussions for their reproduction rates.

Globally, cheetah numbers in the wild have dropped by 80 percent in the last half-century and they’ve been pushed out of 90 percent of their historical range.

Scientists believe that cheetahs already narrowly escaped extinction at the end of the last ice age around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, which first reduced their gene pool.

Marker said the lack of genetic diversity, along with the fact that cheetahs have 70 to 80 percent abnormal sperm, mean they might need help in the future.

“And so, a sperm bank makes perfect sense, right?” Marker said.

A COMMON TACTIC

Storing sperm is not unique to cheetahs in the wildlife world. It’s a tactic that conservationists have developed for other species, including elephants, rhinos, antelopes, other big cats, birds and others.

The value of animal reproductive research, Marker said, is seen in the desperate battle to save the northern white rhino from extinction.

There are just two northern white rhinos left, both females, making the species functionally extinct with no chance of reproducing naturally. Their only hope lies in artificial reproduction using northern white rhino sperm that was collected and frozen years ago.

Because both remaining northern white rhinos — a mother and daughter — can’t carry pregnancies, scientists have tried to implant northern white rhino embryos in southern white rhino surrogates. The surrogates haven’t managed to carry any of the pregnancies to term, but the conservation team has committed to keep trying to save northern white rhinos against all odds.

Other efforts around artificial reproduction have been successful, including a project that bred black-footed ferrets using artificial reproduction after they’d been reduced to a single wild population in Wyoming in the United States.

LAST RESORT

Marker doesn’t chase down cheetahs to collect their sperm but takes samples opportunistically. In Namibia, cheetahs are mostly in danger from farmers who view them as threats to their livestock, meaning Marker’s team are called out for cats that have been injured or captured and will collect samples while treating and releasing them.

Sperm samples can also be taken from dead cheetahs. “Every cheetah is actually a unique mix of a very small number of genes. We will try to bank every animal we possibly can,” Marker said.

The samples from approximately 400 cheetahs and counting are now stored at ultralow temperatures in liquid nitrogen at the Cheetah Conservation Fund laboratory. Marker’s research does not involve any artificial insemination as breeding wild animals in captivity is not allowed in Namibia.

Should cheetahs be threatened with extinction again, the first backup would be the roughly 1,800 cats living in zoos and other captive environments. But, Marker said, cheetahs don’t breed well in captivity and the sperm bank might be, like the northern white rhinos, the last resort.

Without it, “we’re not going to have much of a chance,” Marker said.


title: Can AI ever be funny?

content_text:
From talking babies to celebrity ‘deepfakes,’ some comedians embrace AI tools, but they’re still the ones running the show

A baby and his family dog sit across from each other in a podcast studio.

“Welcome to the talking baby podcast,” says the infant, wearing headphones and sounding like a deep-voiced radio broadcaster. “On today’s episode, we’ll be talking to the weird-looking person who lives at my house.”

So begins a series of humorous interactions between two characters animated by artificial intelligence that’s attracted millions of views on social media. They’re a nod to the 1989 movie Look Who’s Talking but produced in a matter of hours and without a multimillion-dollar Hollywood budget.

Willonius Hatcher, also known as King Willonius, on Sep. 18 is pictured with his presentation entitled I’m McLovin It (Popeye’s Diss Song) at the a16z AI Creative Gallery in New York. Photo: AP

AI helped do all of that, but it didn’t craft the punch lines. It’s a relief to comedian Jon Lajoie, who made the videos, that AI chatbots just aren’t “inherently funny.”

“It can’t write comedy,” said Lajoie. “It can’t do any of that.” For now, at least, they won’t take his job.

Lajoie’s viral videos have gained him attention as an AI-adopting entertainer that’s he’s not entirely comfortable with as he grapples with what all this means for the future of his very human craft of making people laugh.

King Willonius is not feeling so cautious. His first big hit was an AI-generated song called BBL Drizzy that made fun of rapper Drake during the height of his feud with Kendrick Lamar. He’s since moved into making AI video parodies like I’m McLovin It (Popeye’s Diss Song) and I Want My Barrel Back (Cracker Barrel song).

“It’s very similar to somebody who’s writing for The Onion or SNL,” Willonius said. “I try to find out, OK, what’s my comedic angle on this particular topic? And then I’ll generate a video from that.”

He starts with writing his own notes on an idea, then refines it with a chatbot, and puts that language — known as a prompt — into AI tools that can generate imagery, video, music and voices. The key, he says, is to keep iterating.

But he wouldn’t just ask it for a joke — Willonius says most chatbot-generated comedy lacks the “nuances or complexities that it takes for jokes to really land.”

A scholar of comedy, Michelle Robinson, said “a lot of the stuff that I’ve seen AI produce is corny as hell.”

“It does seem fluent in the basic grammar of jokes, but sometimes they’re slightly off,” said Robinson, a professor of American studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “They may be moderately funny, but I think they’re really missing an important element of what makes us laugh.”

What are they missing? She’s not totally sure, except that most good jokes are a little edgy or dangerous and chatbots can’t seem to calibrate “whatever provocation is in the joke to the moment that we’re living in.”

Caleb Warren, a professor who studies marketing and consumer psychology at the University of Arizona, said that leaves comedy writers with an opportunity to make use of tools that can’t completely outsource their skills.

“The ideas that are driving the humor are coming from the human comedian,” but the AI tools can help them execute and illustrate them, Warren said.

Willonius was a struggling comedian and screenwriter who began experimenting with AI during Hollywood’s actor and writer strikes in 2023.

“I leaned all the way into AI because I didn’t know what else to do with my free time,” he said. “I was doing everything I could to try to break into Hollywood. And once the writers’ strike happened, that kind of shut that down. I started to learn these AI tools and get really good at them and started to cultivate an audience.”

While Willonius saw an opening, the rise of generative AI has stoked division and posed challenges to other professional comedians.

Sarah Silverman joined book authors in suing leading chatbot makers, alleging they infringed the copyright of her The Bedwetter memoir. The daughter of the late Robin Williams called it “gross” and “maddening” when users of OpenAI’s AI video generator Sora conjured up realistic “deepfakes” of the beloved actor to churn out what she described as “horrible TikTok slop puppeteering.”

“You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over processed hot dogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat hoping they’ll give you a little thumbs-up and like it,” Zelda Williams wrote in October.

And the estate of legendary comic George Carlin last year settled a lawsuit against podcasters who purportedly cloned his voice to make a fake hourslong comedy special.

Comics have also relished mocking AI tools. A recent South Park episode called “Sora Not Sorry” had a bumbling police detective investigate a scourge of fake videos.

Lajoie, known for his work on the TV series The League and comic songs on YouTube, tried to see what would happen if he asked ChatGPT to help craft a bizarre movie script idea. He said it gave him something “super boring” about “grandma’s dentures and a talking raccoon.”

“That level of human creativity, it can’t mimic — yet — or at least maybe I’m not great at prompting,” he said. Instead, he found it useful to cheaply animate ideas he would otherwise never have pursued — such as the talking baby, birds wearing jeans, or a podcasting Jesus Christ interviewing an Easter Bunny who’s never heard of him.

The prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz invited Lajoie and Willonius to exhibit their video creations this fall at a new AI gallery space in Manhattan, part of a promotion of AI creativity tool startups that the firm invests in.

Willonius obliged. Lajoie ended up bowing out, after an interview with The Associated Press in which he voiced doubts about what he described as AI’s “Napster phase.” The music-sharing website shuttered in the early 2000s after the record industry and rock band Metallica sued over copyright violations.

The investment firm’s co-founder, Marc Andreessen, has been bullish about AI’s potential to bring new life into filmmaking and comedy. On a November podcast, he blamed Hollywood opposition to its adoption on “woke activists [who] have picked up AI as the new thing they’re going to agitate about.” He compared it to resistance to computer graphics in movies before they became commonplace.

Lajoie said he shared his early AI video experiments with a few friends who are “anti-AI; real, real, anti-AI” and they were surprised by how well the sketches retained Lajoie’s own comedic voice.

He insists he’s no AI expert, just “a creative person who can figure out how to make two characters talk to each other.” But even editing the sketches requires understanding comedic timing, and he has no interest in ceding that part to a machine.

“The thing with comedy is it’s so related to performance, delivery and point of view,” Lajoie said. “Do AIs have a point of view? They can grab a few points of view from different people.”

“And when it does have a point of view, I think that’s when we all should be afraid for all of the reasons that the Terminator has taught us,” he said.


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Wake Up Dead Man mixes religion and mystery in poor Knives Out filmAfter two installments of his Knives Out franchise skewered old and new money, director and writer Rian Johnson targets religion in his third, a gloomy and clunky outing

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery gets a new starry cast to orbit Daniel Craig’s foppish detective Benoit Blanc, mixes operatic overacting with sly humor and bites off more than it can digest attempting cultural satire. The pacing is off, too. You won’t exactly need to be nudged awake but it gets pretty soggy there for a while in the middle.

Blanc takes his sweet time to appear, which means that the first half of the movie is carried by the young Catholic priest Jud Duplenticy — a name Johnson apparently thinks is witty — who is sent to a troubled New York parish called Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude run by a monsignor who is “a few beads shy of a rosary.”

The young priest — played by a really winning and soulful Josh O’Connor — is a former boxer with a troubled past who in his new faith has found guidance and meaning. He preaches the gospel of love and calls himself “young, dumb and full of Christ.”

This image released by Netflix shows Josh O’Connor, left, and Daniel Craig in a scene from Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Photo: AP

What he finds is that the parish is run by a thunder-and-lightning monsignor who preaches the gospel of fear. Played deliciously by Josh Brolin, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks uses shame and guilt to keep his tiny flock in line against a permissive world. “Anger lets us fight back,” he announces. “I hold the line.” Johnson is making a leaden dig at those in power who inflame divisions for their own power.

When Wicks is found dead, Blanc finally shows up. The manner of the death is a classic detective book trope: The so-called locked-room mystery. Blanc calls this crime’s “Holy Grail.”

There are many suspects, of course: His devoted secretary (Glenn Close), an alcoholic doctor (Jeremy Renner), the groundskeeper (Thomas Haden Church), a sci-fi novelist in decline (Andrew Scott), a cellist with nerve pain (Cailee Spaeny) and a MAGA-like political hack (Daryl McCormack) and the woman who raised him, a resentful lawyer (Kerry Washington). Johnson tries hard to give each depth, despite their sheer number, with telling details, like the way they tap a spoon on a tea cup.

Chief among the suspects is our bare-knuckle priest, whose relationship with the older Man of God has gone from bad to worse. “You’re poisoning the church,” he tells the monsignor and vows to “cut you out like a cancer.” No wonder the town’s police chief (Mila Kunis) quickly zeros in on the younger man.

There’s no way you can solve this one so just relax and let it stutter-stop several times to its overcooked end. Along the way, Johnson makes jokes about Oprah, The Phantom of the Opera and even Netflix, the hand that feeds him, while dead bodies go headfirst down the stairs thunk-thunk-thunk, a US$80 million diamond appears and suspects scream, as storms swirl, that “Vengeance is mine!”

Perhaps the movie’s best bits are when the young priest and detective team up to solve the crime. Blanc reveals himself to be a “proud heretic” who only “kneels at the altar of the practical” and believes religion is just storytelling, a means of control. The younger priest believes the opposite and is torn between sleuthing and his ministry, his open heart propelling the movie while Craig’s Foghorn Leghorn, Southern-fried dandyism grows increasingly tiresome. (Although fans do get to hear him utter “Scooby Dooby Doo.”)

Johnson has so far made a few glancing blows against cults of personality and the dynamics of in-groups, but nothing terribly crushing. He then comes to more tricky waters when the monsignor seemingly emerges alive from three days in a crypt, a riff from a foundational tenet of Christianity: the resurrection itself. It’s the ultimate in glib.

A satisfying conclusion awaits but, truth be told, it has been a bit of a slog, with soft digressions into social critiques and the meaning of faith grafted onto a setup that, by the third movie in the franchise, shows its seams instantly. Wake up, indeed.


countries: 新加坡 菲律賓 台灣 日本 韓國

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SPEAK UP: Year-end movies & AAA TV awards to open (2/2) 年底強片、「AAA」亞洲盛典 將發威（下）

A: While year-end blockbusters hit cinemas, South Korea’s two-day 2025 Asia Artist Awards, known as “AAA,” is scheduled for this weekend in Kaohsiung.

B: Saturday’s AAA award show will be co-hosted by IVE’s Jang Won-young and 2PM’s Lee Jun-ho.

A: Apart from Park Bo-gum and IU from the K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, the lineup includes Lee Jun-hyuk, Kim You-jung, Yoon-a and Japan’s Satoh Takeru.

B: And the performers include IVE, Le Sserafim, Monsta X, Stray Kids and Singapore’s JJ Lin.

A: Sunday’s ACON music show will be co-hosted by I-dle’s Taiwanese member Susan Yeh and Cravity’s Taiwanese-American Allen Ma. It will also feature the Philippines’ SB19 and many more Asian stars. Isn’t that cool?

A: 除了年底壓軸電影外，電視圈的大事：韓國「AAA亞洲明星盛典」今年將分成兩天並移師高雄！

B: 週六登場的頒獎典禮，將由IVE的張員瑛和2PM的李俊昊主持。

A: 除了《苦盡柑來遇見你》的男女主角朴寶劍、IU，聽說陣容包括李浚赫、金裕貞、潤娥和日本的佐藤健。

B: 表演來賓還有：IVE、Le Sserafim、Monsta X、Stray Kids和新加坡的林俊傑。

A: 週日登場的ACON音樂節，將由I-dle的台灣成員葉舒華、Cravity的台裔美籍成員馬蒔權等人主持。來賓則包括菲律賓的SB19等亞洲明星，很酷吧？

（By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）

For your information LANGUAGE TIP 語文小提示 lineup n. 人（或物）之列隊、選手陣容、嫌犯排成行列（以供證人指證）1: an alignment (as in entertainment or politics) of persons or things having a common purpose, distinction or bond 2: a list of players taking part in a game (as of baseball) the starting lineup; the players on such a list3: a line of persons arranged especially for inspection or for identification by policeline up v. 排隊、排列、整隊To assume an orderly linear arrangement


title: 外媒報導中國百艘艦艇集結　張競：解讀者「新手上路」硬扣政治意涵

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▲大陸海軍艦艇操演。（資料圖／翻攝陸網）

軍武中心／台北報導

路透社4日獨家報導，稱中國大陸解放軍海軍近百艘艦艇現蹤，引發外界聯想。然而，中華戰略學會資深研究員張競指出，這其實只是解放軍每年固定實施的「歲末冬操」，由於「解讀者」是「新手上路」，把焦點放在港外動態，變成「外媒硬扣政治意涵，完全畫錯重點。」

路透指出，中國正在東亞海域部署大量海軍和海警艦艇，活動升溫正值中國和日本陷入外交危機之際。這項海上軍力展示規模之大創歷來之最。中國艦艇已經在從黃海南端、經過東海、再往爭議的南海以及太平洋海域，進行大規模集結。

張競解釋，其實這是標準「歲末冬操」演練項目，有如以往「聯合利劍」-2024B時，共軍航空部隊順勢實施全掛儎、全彈量、全油量測試是相同原則與理念；這個是艦艇戰備與港內後勤支援的全功能壓力測試，每年都會定期實施累似演練。

張競分析，各艦隊會在特定時段集中出港，分別執行不同等級的基本演練，但「真正的重頭戲是在返港後」。艦艇返港後，將全面測試港內的勤務支援能力，包括加油、補水、上彈與補給等環節，目的在於評估各軍港油料庫、加水站、彈藥庫與補給單位的效率。

張競表示，真正「考核重點」的受測單位，是負責協助艦艇裝卸精準導引武器的港勤支援編組，內容涵蓋碼頭吊車與運彈卡車搭配作業、在導彈核潛艦旁協助吊掛戰略飛彈的駁船流程、危險品碼頭的人工搬運，甚至包括使用岸邊軌道起重機為航空母艦補掛各式精準導引武器。

張競指出，演訓對流體與固體補給作業皆有獨立評鑑，無論靠泊補給、錨泊補給或水鼓繫留整補，都各自有明確考核標準。此外，多艘艦艇同步出港與返港，本身就是對軍港泊位調度與補給排序效率的壓力測試，目的在檢視港內人力、車輛與設備能否維持秩序，並在短時間內完成大量作業需求。

他強調，這是一套多年來固定實施、節奏明確的後勤演練模式，但許多研究中國大陸軍事動態的觀察者，許多中國大陸軍事活動研究者，每年看到此種「歲末冬操」，大量艦艇現身出海，可是從這麼多艦艇蜂擁而出，但是從海上操演課目、活動海域與航行期程，看不懂此種軍事動態真正演練目的為何？其實就是因為「解讀者」是「新手上路」，少見多怪所致。

張競強調，解放軍艦艇大舉出港的動態往往吸引國際媒體注意，但真正的「驗收場景」都發生在港內。他以「聯合利劍—2024B」為例指出，當時媒體把焦點放在共軍軍機起降與航線，但航空部隊真正的壓軸測試，是在機場停機坪的掛彈與加油點。

countries: 中國 日本


title: 全台第一家！　日月光中壢廠獲永續經營級防火標章殊榮

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▲日月光中壢廠獲永續經營級防火標章殊榮。（圖／日月光提供）

記者高兆麟／台北報導

日月光（3711）中壢廠長年致力於提升防火安全與企業永續之目標，積極配合財團法人台灣建築中心，並經由中華產業防災協會的專業輔導，以永續防災為目標，整合建築、消防及職業安全等三大領域，對防火避難、風險評估、安全管理計畫、韌性防災及緊急應變計畫，進行整體性火災量化風險評估，並透過優化本質安全、提升安全科技及強化防災管理，將火災風險降至最低。

經應變編組演練實證及專家學者實地審查驗證後，給予一致的肯定，成為全台灣第一家獲此殊榮的企業。於12月3日舉行頒獎儀式，由主辦單位中華民國內政部、內政部消防署與承辦單位財團法人台灣建築中心共同舉辦「114年職場消防安全SDGs揭露指南評選活動」，中壢廠資深副總經理沈文智代表領獎。

沈文智表示，日月光中壢廠時刻要求廠內每一位員工，遵守防火安全的規定與紀律，並養成防火安全的文化與觀念，積極參與防火安全的教育訓練與演練；另一方面也藉由國內外各項發生案例來檢討我們自己是否還有遺漏或改善進步的空間，同時更引進紅外線熱成像攝影機、以及AI影像辨識等高科技輔助，三方面由內而外地來強化本公司的防火安全。

此次很榮幸能獲得內政部消防署頒發114 年職場消防安全 SDGs 揭露企業卓越獎，及感謝財團法人台灣建築中心頒發全國企業第一家永續經營級防火標章。未來日月光中壢廠將秉持永續經營的理念，朝向善盡企業社會責任及持續強化防火防災方向邁進。

countries: 台灣 中華民國


title: 《寶可夢》卡牌「化石盔」飆漲　玩家囤1748張遭網酸：牟取暴利

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記者黃冠瑋／綜合報導

關於一件物品如果經過評鑑或許可以，讓它的價值再度翻倍，像是《寶可夢》集換式實體卡牌經過鑑定一張就可以賣到幾十萬都有可能。然而近期卻出現卡牌並未鑑定便數日暴漲情形，原因竟是一位自稱甲蟲王的玩家，大量收集平奇「化石盔」卡牌造成價格翻倍，讓不少網友忍不住開酸，「哄抬物價，牟取暴利」。

▼《寶可夢》卡牌「化石盔」遭大量囤貨飆漲。（圖／翻攝自X／@KabutoKing_）

事情其實是，一名自稱甲蟲王的玩家成功掀起寶可夢卡牌圈震浪，根據當時情形起初這名玩家唯一目標是想收集所有現存的初版「化石盔」卡牌，並且過程中非常順利，畢竟這張「化石盔」卡牌對於許多寶可夢愛好者而言，根本一文不值。然而正當這名玩家收集超過1,700張「化石盔」卡牌，事情竟發生意想不到變化，市場價格逐漸轉變，「化石盔」卡牌就如同現今記憶體漲幅般數次暴漲。

從原價只要2美元（約新台幣60美元）一張品相近乎全新的初版「化石盔」卡牌的價格歷史上首次突破10美元（約新台幣300元），隨後漲價幅度便持續升溫，一度飆超過數百美元，甚至出現有鑑定過「化石盔」卡牌開價到610美元（約新台幣18,300），讓許多原本就再關注寶可夢卡牌玩家似乎意識到有點不太對勁。

雖說卡牌價格上漲，對於原本就有的寶可夢卡牌玩家而言，或許不見得是一件壞事，但畢竟市面上初代「化石盔」卡牌大部分都被甲蟲王收購，因此有不少網友指責批評他是故意抬高卡牌價值，企圖最後全部賣掉牟取暴利。不過也有些網友則是替甲蟲王反駁，大部分初代「化石盔」卡牌都集中在甲蟲王手上，一旦為了賣掉牟取暴利，價格自然而然便會迅速下跌，因此根本無法大量獲利。

You guys are wild ???? pic.twitter.com/XUJpe706Us

— Kabuto King (@KabutoKing_) November 29, 2025


title: 粉絲神還原「寶可夢圖鑑」！卡牌、玩偶秒辨識哪隻寶可夢網驚呆

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記者楊智仁／綜合報導

喜愛《寶可夢》系列的粉絲，對作品中的高科技裝置「寶可夢圖鑑」絕不陌生，這款可攜式電子百科全書能即時提供各種寶可夢的資訊，然而過去一直只存在於虛構世界。如今，隨著粉絲們成長並投入科技領域，真實版寶可夢圖鑑已不再只是幻想。

▼粉絲真實神還原寶可夢圖鑑。（圖／翻攝自BigRig Creates）

知名創作者 BigRig Creates 近日發表了他所稱的「全球最強寶可夢圖鑑」，並表示這款自製 Pokédex 不僅外型精準，更具備完整功能，與多數僅求外觀還原的 DIY 作品不同，BigRig 的裝置中每個螢幕、按鍵與燈號皆具備實際作用，並非僅供展示。

這款圖鑑以 3D 列印外殼打造，內部搭載 ESP32 開發板 與 Raspberry Pi Pico 微控制器，外部更配有相機可透過拍照方式「捕捉」寶可夢。主螢幕負責顯示影像與詳細資料，另有三個額外螢幕展示寶可夢描述文字與屬性資訊，值得一提的是，這款 Pokédex 能辨識卡牌、玩偶、數位角色甚至粉絲創作圖。其影像辨識方式並未依賴 AI 模型，而是執行 Google 反向圖片搜尋，再分析結果中最常出現的字詞，以判定該寶可夢的身份。

為還原 Pokédex 的經典電子音，BigRig 最初使用 Piper TTS，再透過後製讓合成聲音更具機械感，但仍與預期略有差距。為達到最佳效果，他最終特地訓練了一套 自訂文字轉語音模型，打造出更貼近原作風格的最終聲線。BigRig Creates 亦同步公開實際操作影片，讓粉絲一睹真實版 Pokédex 的全貌。


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▲桃園醫院「AI 驅動的智慧醫療革命」創新成果亮相。（圖／桃園醫院提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

衛福部桃園醫院4日指出，2025年「台灣醫療科技展」即日起至 7 日登場。部立桃園醫院以「AI 驅動的智慧醫療革命」為核心主題，展出多項創新成果，呈現醫院從臨床、管理、護理到教育的全面數位轉型進展。

桃園醫院院長楊南屏表示，本次展區以四大智慧醫療亮點為主軸，展現科技已深度融入臨床流程。院方導入腦部 AI 決策系統，能在數秒內自動偵測腦出血，協助急診團隊掌握分秒必爭的治療時機；X 光骨質 AI則讓日常胸部 X 光具備預防醫學功能，30 秒內即可推估骨折風險，使早期介入與追蹤更為容易。

▲桃園醫院「AI 驅動的智慧醫療革命」創新成果亮相。（圖／桃園醫院提供）

在病房照護方面，智慧護理平台整合穿戴式貼片、生理監測與電子白板，自動化蒐集與上傳資訊，減少護理人員紀錄負擔，讓照護能量回到病患身上；而 IoT 系統串聯臨床、行政、財務與物流，也讓後勤管理更具效率，能因應醫療量能與物資需求的快速變動。

為深化智慧醫療的實務應用，桃園醫院也在展期間規劃了一系列主題分享，讓參觀者更能理解科技如何真正進入醫療場域。該院職能治療科主任郭穠榛分享生成式 AI 與 RAG 技術在醫學教育中的創新應用，說明 AI 如何協助建立個別化學習模式，並成為遠距照護的重要助力。

12 月6 日上午，護理部副護理長李依潔將從臨床痛點出發，談資訊整合如何改善護理流程，使照護現場真正「減負增能」。緊接著，同日上午影像醫學部主任楊菁華也將解析影像醫學中的流程優化與創新模式，帶領與會者看見影像診斷如何因智慧化而提升安全與效率。

桃園醫院院長楊南屏表示，智慧醫療的核心並非追求科技本身，而是讓科技真正「回到臨床、回到流程、回到人」。他指出，醫療現場的挑戰從來不只是診斷與治療，而是如何讓醫護人員不被繁重流程綁住，讓病患得到最即時、最精準的照護。他強調，AI 的導入不是替代，而是協助醫療團隊提升品質，是建立更韌性醫療體系的重要基石。

title: 30秒可推估骨折風險！　桃園醫院亮相「AI 驅動的智慧醫療革命」


title: 網路詐騙「最多通報平台」臉書30天破5萬件　Threads排行第二

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▲網路詐騙媒介臉書排行第一，其次是Threads。（圖／資料照片）

記者趙蔡州／綜合報導

內政部與刑事局4日宣布，由於小紅書資安檢測不合格，加上2年內涉詐騙1706件，造成民眾財產損失2.4億元，因此即日起對小紅書啟動「網際網路停止解析與限制接取」命令，封鎖一年。不過，根據數發部統計資料，網路社群平台涉詐通報數，臉書（Facebook）在詐騙媒介比例仍是第一。

根據數發部的「網路詐騙通報查詢網」統計，截至4日晚間11點，過去30天通報疑似詐騙訊息總數共有78638則，其中確認是詐騙訊息為28595則，占36.36%，確認是高風險訊息為11952則（15.20%），確認非詐騙訊息為19,122（24.32%）。

詐騙樣態分別是「產品服務」最高有34227件，其他如愛情交友有3702件、身分冒充13617件、金融投資7157件、工作求職969件、錢騾車手101件、意外之財4629件、慈善捐款96件、威脅勒索301件、其他詐騙12775件。

至於詐騙媒介的比例，從多至少分別是Facebook有52128件、Threads有10378件、Instagram有7342件、Meta 廣告聯播網有5432件、Meta Msg有4633件、Line有977件、Google有290件、Tiktok有285件。

▼網路詐騙通報查詢網曝光近30天的網路詐騙統計。（圖／翻攝自網路詐騙通報查詢網，點圖可放大）

references: 臉書 Facebook


title: 桃園青創博覽會12/9登場　即起開放報名

content_text:
▲2025桃園青創博覽會。（圖／青年局提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

桃園市政府青年局4日指出，2025 桃園青創博覽會Taoyuan Future Peak(TFP)， 12月9日即將在桃園會展中心盛大登場。今年展會規模、論壇深度與國際鏈結全面升級，提出「八方匯聚 × 新創齊飛」的主題精神，結合全臺與國際生態系資源，打造 2025 年最具國際視野的新創年度盛會，即日起開放報名，歡迎各方關注創新的朋友，參與年度盛會。

展攤陣容匯聚北臺灣城市，包括臺北市、新北市、桃園市、新竹縣與新竹市政府推薦的新創團隊。全球最大創新加速器Plug and Play Taiwan 落腳在臺灣，其中的亮點新創如：摩絡人工智慧與科穎達公司，也分別代表 A8 桃園智慧產業加速器與新明青創基地登場，象徵地方育成與國際加速器的成功連結。

▲2025桃園青創博覽會，八國新創團隊齊聚展現創新能量。（圖／青年局提供）

今年兩場主論壇將聚焦國際策略與投資洞察，其中「國際論壇」由陽明交通大學產創長黃經堯主持，邀請 FiO Technology(豫亨科技)CEO祝祥凱、NEV新經濟資本創始合夥人吳詣泓及運動創業家張泰山，分享跨國創業、科技市場落地與運動家精神等全球競爭關鍵心態與策略。

「投資人論壇」則由玩艸植造永續長洪誠孝主持，邀請 AVA Angels（安發天使投資）創辦人方俊傑、鴻海研究院AI所所長栗永徽博士、SIC永續影響力投資合夥人謝文淵與倍利生技創投總經理許哲雄，共同分享實戰經驗，協助團隊理解如何吸引國際資本，打造可長期成長的DeepTech（深度技術）與永續技術實力。

市府青年局局長侯佳齡表示，本屆活動共招募超過120組新創團隊，除與國際加速器Plug and Play合作外，更吸引來自新加坡、泰國、韓國、法國、印度、印尼、宏都拉斯及臺灣八個國家的新創參與，青年事務局更以「從校園到國際」為核心策略，自校園端啟動創業支持，透過青創基地提供孵化陪跑，再由桃園天際線與 A8 桃園智慧產業加速器加速輔導，最終藉由青創博覽會展示全國優秀團隊成果，全面提升桃園新創能量。

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 臺北市 泰山 新竹縣 新竹市 成功 新北市

countries: 法國 宏都拉斯 印度 印尼 泰國 韓國 新加坡 臺灣


content_text:
▲桃竹苗分署培訓國手莊致齊（左）、鄭宇翔，於亞洲技能競賽「自主移動機器人」奪金。（圖／桃竹苗分署提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

勞動力發展署桃竹苗分署4日表示，2025年第3屆亞洲技能競賽於11月29日在台灣南港展覽館圓滿落幕，臺灣代表隊展現亮眼實力，共奪下22金9銀5銅，勇奪參賽國家總冠軍；該分署培訓的國手於青年組「工業控制」、「服裝創作」、「冷凍空調」及青少年組「自主移動機器人」等7職類抱回8面金牌，展現臺灣技職教育深厚能量。

桃竹苗分署指出，此次在青少年組「自主移動機器人」職類摘下金牌的莊致齊與鄭宇翔，係由桃竹苗分署與君毅高中學攜手培訓。兩人年僅16歲，卻展現超齡的技術穩定度與臨場成熟度。莊致齊自小著迷機構設計，擅長拆解、組裝，是隊上的結構核心；鄭宇翔則在程式邏輯與系統整合方面表現亮眼，思維細膩、執行精準。

▲桃竹苗分署長賴家仁（中）與榮獲青少年組「自主移動機器人」金牌的培訓國手莊致齊（右2）、鄭宇翔（左2）及指導老師黃新福（右）、黃政鈞（左） 。（圖／桃竹苗分署提供）

兩人分工明確、風格互補，在理論與實作間取得完美節奏，被教練形容為「一拍即合的黃金組合」。為協助選手在國際舞台穩健發揮，桃竹苗分署打造完善的移地訓練環境，提供住宿膳食、訓練材料與專業師資。

其中，具多年國手指導經驗的訓練師謝道明老師親自擔綱，以其沉穩紮實的教學風格，成為選手最堅強的後盾。他擅長把複雜問題拆解成模組化概念，協助選手在反覆練習中找到穩定節奏；訓練期間更透過情境式模擬、突發狀況演練及精準錯誤分析，強化選手的臨場應對能力。

▲桃竹苗分署培訓的國手勇奪8面金牌，賴家仁分署長（左5）與獲獎的培訓國手、老師。（圖／桃竹苗分署提供）

莊致齊與鄭宇翔表示，分署與團隊自分區賽起一路相伴，從師資、設備到材料都給予最完整的支援，使他們能一步步挺進國際舞台。他們也特別感謝君毅高中的指導老師黃新福、黃正鈞，從校內基礎訓練到國際選拔期都給予穩定技術指導與精神支持，是促成此次佳績的重要力量。「聽到獲金那一刻，鼻酸得幾乎說不出話。所有努力就在那瞬間被看見。」兩人回憶起頒獎時，情緒仍激動未歇。

桃竹苗分署長賴家仁表示，此次亞洲賽被視為明年第48屆國際技能競賽的重要前哨戰，國手能藉由此役累積寶貴實戰經驗。未來分署將持續與學校攜手合作，深化技能教育能量，協助更多青年站上國際舞台，讓世界看見台灣技能的高水準表現。

title: 桃竹苗分署培訓國手莊致齊、鄭宇翔　亞洲技能競賽奪金

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 南港

countries: 臺灣 台灣


title: 桃園7處風景區公有停車場　完成電動車充電樁建置

content_text:
▲桃園7處風景區公有停車場，完成電動車充電樁建置。（圖／風管處提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

桃園市政府風景區管理處4日表示，該處為推動淨零碳排、打造低碳旅遊環境，該處於114年完成 7 處風景區公有停車場電動車充電樁基礎設施建置，包含 180kW快充8槍、11kW慢充6槍，目前已全數投入營運並開始收費。

風管處指出，此舉不僅提升市府在風景特定區的公有充電量能，更減輕電動車車主在北橫旅遊的「續航里程焦慮」，打造更友善、更便利的綠能旅遊環境。其中，拉拉山遊客服務中心停車場的快充站更是亮點之一，為北台灣海拔最高的180kW充電站，成為前往拉拉山、巴陵、明池旅途中最可靠的「補能夥伴」，也讓入住復興區後山的旅客享有更便利的充電體驗。

▲桃園7處風景區公有停車場，完成電動車充電樁建置。（圖／風管處提供）

另外，市民也可以使用桃園市交通局「桃園輕鬆GO」App查詢充電樁位置。營運端則透過遠傳「智慧充電服務平台」整合後台資訊，包含即時監控、數據蒐集分析，作為後續風管處提升服務品質的重要依據。

風管處提醒，依據相關停車法規，非電動車不得占用電動車專用車格，請市民共同維護充電環境。桃園市政府將持續以「推廣低碳旅遊、提升觀光服務」為目標，加強北橫沿線旅遊友善設施，讓更多電動車旅客能暢遊桃園、玩遍北橫、縱走山城，享受更便利、安心的綠能旅遊體驗。

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 復興


content_text:
▲基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點桃園交流。（圖／社會局提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

桃園市政府社會局4日在龍潭區三水社區照顧關懷據點辦理「114 年度基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點業務交流計畫—下半年績優據點參訪活動」，邀集基隆市、臺北市、新北市及桃園市等四市主管社區照顧關懷據點業務之相關人員及輔導團隊參與，期強化四市社區照顧服務量能，促進長照資源共享與合作。

▲基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點桃園交流。（圖／社會局提供）

桃園市政府社會局局長陳寶民表示，桃園市人口快速成長，65歲以上長者已突破38萬人。市府持續擴大社區照顧關懷據點布建，近2年新增61處據點，涵蓋率提升10%，目前全市已達440處、涵蓋率近70%，布建成果亮眼；同時積極串聯公私部門資源，與民間單位共同推動銀樂科技互動體驗、護耳照護、藥師好鄰居及行動沙龍車等多元創新方案，提升據點服務深度與廣度。

而「社區照顧關懷據點」是政府推動在地老化與社區照顧的重要基石，也是長者在熟悉生活圈中獲得陪伴、健康促進、營養支持與社會參與的第一線服務站。面對人口超高齡化及社區需求日益多元，跨縣市交流更顯重要。

▲基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點桃園交流。（圖／社會局提供）

桃園市社區照顧關懷據點以「在地安老、預防照顧」為核心目標，過往以電話問安、關懷訪視、共餐與健康促進等服務長者生活。近年因科技進步與新世代長者加入，桃園市政府積極結合導入智慧科技，與企業、學界及在地社區合作，發展科技互動設備、數位課程及科技體驗活動，促使據點服務更具多元性與創新性。市府亦同步擴大據點布建與專業支持，建構更綿密、科技化的照顧網絡，推動桃園成為引領全台的智慧高齡友善示範城市。

title: 基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點桃園交流  促進長照資源共享

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 新北市 龍潭 大社區 臺北市 基隆市


title: 桃食安心舞動健康嘉年華12/6-7日登場　萬張美食券現場大方送

content_text:
▲桃食安心舞動健康嘉年華打造專屬桃園的「健康 × 食安 × 青春」城市品牌。（圖／衛生局提供）

記者楊淑媛／桃園報導

桃園市政府衛生局4日表示，該局主辦的年度大型健康盛事「2025桃食安心舞動健康嘉年華」，將於12月6、7日在桃園藝文廣場熱鬧登場，活動結合街舞決賽、美食市集、親子闖關、健康教育等多元內容，並將發放萬張美食券(發完為止)，打造專屬桃園的「健康 × 食安 × 青春」城市品牌。

該局指出，去年活動兩天就吸引上萬人熱情參與，今年更全面升級內容與規模，結合最受矚目的街舞決賽、人氣美食市集、親子闖關挑戰以及實用的健康教育展區。現場將大方發放超過萬張美食券，讓民眾玩樂同時也能享受在地美食。

萬張美食券可至600家合作店家使用，還有iPhone 17、50吋LED智慧顯示器、iPad A16及多項家電等30萬超值摸彩品，於兩天活動的下午進行直播開獎，寓教於樂，適合全家共同參與。

衛生局表示，桃園市今年9月率先全國推出餐飲店家「食安評價星級評等制度」提升食安透明度。評分以1至5顆星呈現，內容橫跨六大項目，包括：食品良好衛生規範準則、食材溯源、正確食品標示、食品抽驗合規性、登錄及申報資料正確性、自主管理落實情形（含開工前即時上傳環境與人員健康狀態）等項目、所有項目皆達標者，才能獲得最高 5 星榮耀。

截至11月獲得5顆星有16 家校園午餐團膳工廠及12 家大型筵席餐廳，另有24家獲4.5顆星及33家獲4顆星。衛生局說明，食安評價星級評等制度將持續評核，桃園成為全國率先以「透明化數據」推動食安治理的城市，也將持續擴大評等對象，逐步涵蓋更多食品業者。


title: 不只一人受害！賴瑞隆兒涉「校園霸凌3同學」　校方還原時間軸

content_text:
▲民進黨立委賴瑞隆。（圖／記者許宥孺翻攝）

記者閔文昱／綜合報導

高雄一所國小爆出校園衝突案，民進黨立委暨高雄市長準參選人賴瑞隆8歲兒子被控多次攻擊同學，包含女同學遭堵廁所12分鐘、嗆「出來就打死你」等情節，引發家長不滿，也讓校方處理態度備受質疑。校方4日晚間出面還原時間軸，並證實除女同學外，還有兩名學生受影響，共涉及3案。

校方指出，主事件發生於10月16日，賴姓男童與黃姓女同學在跑道發生肢體衝突，雙方互相攻擊，女同學躲入廁所後仍遭賴生在門外叫囂、恐嚇長達12分鐘。學校10月28日得知後啟動通報，女童家長並於11月26日針對黃姓兄妹兩人正式提出霸凌調查。

此外，校方表示，黃姓女童曾反映賴生罵她「神經病」，其母也指出哥哥之前同樣遭罵，兩案均被列入調查。12月2日又發生新衝突，賴生在體育課中故意踢了另一名徐姓學生，造成臉頰挫傷，家長帶孩童驗傷後，醫院啟動社政通報，但家長尚未提出霸凌調查。

面對外界關注，賴瑞隆晚間發聲明證實孩子涉及校園衝突，強調會全力配合學校釐清真相，也會加強引導孩子尊重同儕、培養同理心與負責態度。他呼籲社會「給予必要的教育與輔導空間」，讓事件朝正向方向處理。校方則承諾調查全程公開、公正，並持續與雙方家長溝通。

taiwan-subdivisions: 高雄市 高雄


title: USGS罕見誤判？內華達突報「規模5.9強震」又秒刪　網瘋猜1原因

content_text:
▲USGS地震圖突出現5.9強震又秒消失。（圖／翻攝自X，下同）

記者閔文昱／綜合報導

美國地質調查局（USGS）4日早上突然發布一則「規模5.9地震」的警報，指稱內華達州戴頓（Dayton）附近出現強震，警訊甚至一路推播到舊金山，許多民眾一度擔心地震來襲。不過，這起事件在短短幾分鐘後就被官方撤下，USGS 也證實「沒有發生任何地震」，引發揣測。

最初的警報顯示，地震發生在太浩湖（Lake Tahoe）以東約20英里處，震度一度標示為規模6.2。然而不到數分鐘，USGS 就刪除所有相關資訊；在「Did You Feel It」震感回報系統中，也只有三名民眾表示「疑似有感」，與強震規模完全不符。USGS發言人Sobieszczyk隨後表示，「稍早發布的地震警報已被取消。卡森市附近沒有發生地震。」目前正調查誤發原因。

內華達大學雷諾分校的地震專家Rowe表示，這次事件是ShakeAlert自動偵測系統的誤判，因此透過MyShake等App使大量手機收到警訊，但實際上「沒有任何地震發生」。

事實上，美國地震預警系統向來以穩定著稱，極少出現誤報，因此這次異常誤發在當地引發不少討論，更有網友在社群平台留言猜測，「這次內華達的『地震』很可能是核試驗，USGS是接到政府建議後才移除的。」不過目前完全沒有任何官方資料或地震研究機構支持這項說法，USGS 與相關研究機構仍在追查誤判原因，確切情形尚待釐清。


title: 《寶可夢》卡牌「化石盔」飆漲　玩家囤1748張遭網酸：牟取暴利


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圖文／7Car 小七車觀點

在歐盟逐年收緊排放法規的背景下，柴油動力在歐洲的存在感正以肉眼可見的速度縮小。從 Dieselgate 以前超過 50% 的市佔量，到今年前 10 個月僅剩 8%，柴油已跌落至歐洲市場主流動力的第四名，落後油電混合、汽油與首次在數據上反超的 PHEV。整體趨勢看起來似乎預告柴油終將成為歷史的一部分，但 Audi 顯然還不打算讓 TDI 這段招牌技術就此畫下句點。

Audi 自 1989 年推出首款柴油車款以來，累積了完整的技術發展脈絡，更曾以 TDI 賽車奪下 8 座利曼耐久賽冠軍。甚至還曾研究將 V12 柴油裝進 R8 超跑，只是最終沒有量產。如今來到 2025 年，在市場逐步遠離柴油的同時，Audi 仍推出一具搭載電控增壓科技的全新 3.0 升 V6 柴油，引擎核心思維與過去大不相同，試圖以更先進的節能與反應速度延續柴油生命週期。

新世代的 V6 柴油率先搭載於 A6 與 Q5 車系，採用 48V MHEV 架構並加入電動壓縮機。雖然 Audi 過去已推出過具備輕油電系統的 V6 柴油，但這次是首次讓電動壓縮機與傳統渦輪協同運作。該裝置安裝在渦輪與中冷器後方的進氣路徑，擔任補償渦輪初段反應的角色。

當駕駛深踩油門、渦輪尚未累積足夠排氣能量時，進氣會優先交由電動壓縮機處理，再由常規渦輪進一步加壓，使空氣在進入燃燒室前已達更高密度，藉此提升低轉速扭力與消除遲滯。Audi 甚至表示，這具 V6 的反應速度已能比擬同級的純電車款，這段說法雖然帶著品牌自信，但確實凸顯這套系統的積極調校方向。

輸出方面，這具 3.0 升柴油具備 295 hp 與 580 Nm，最大扭力從 1,500 rpm 便已湧現。與前代相比，系統最高增壓值 3.6 bar 的建立時間縮短近 1 秒，電動壓縮機葉輪轉速更提升 40%，可在 250 毫秒內達到 90,000 rpm，因此在起步階段能多跑出「一個車身距離」的加速優勢。MHEV 系統在起步時還能短暫輸出額外 24 hp 與 230 Nm，讓整體推力更加飽滿。

數據轉化到實際加速，A6 Sedan 能在 5.2 秒完成 0 到 100 km/h，旅行車版本僅慢 0.1 秒。雖然車重相近，但 Q5 與 Q5 Sportback 卻反而更快，以 5 秒整完成加速，極速依舊設定為 250 km/h。雖然動力系統組成相當複雜，看起來彷彿可能多一個零件就多一個潛在風險，但 Audi 強調整體耐用性已較上代提升，油耗表現也更為亮眼。

值得一提的是，這並非全新平台，而是 Volkswagen Group 自 2010 年以來的 EA897 系列最新演進版本，甚至曾搭載於 Porsche 柴油車款。該系列過去在 Dieselgate 事件中扮演不光彩角色，如今 Audi 表示這一代的排放表現已是史上最乾淨，並支援使用 HVO（加氫處理植物油）燃料，能比傳統柴油減少最高 95% 的 CO₂ 排放。德國 Neckarsulm 與 Ingolstadt 工廠目前已為新車填注 HVO 來滿足低碳需求。

title: Audi「新世代TDI柴油V6引擎」亮相！A6房車＆Q5休旅率先搭載

countries: 德國 歐盟


countries: 中華民國 台灣

title: 全台第一家！　日月光中壢廠獲永續經營級防火標章殊榮


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▲馬防部驚爆共諜案。圖為馬防部「漢光41號演習」實彈射擊。（圖／資料照）

記者閔文昱／綜合報導

馬祖防衛指揮部再爆共諜案！孫姓中士因沉迷網路直播、砸錢抖內女直播主，不僅花光薪水與積蓄，還欠下大筆債務。他為籌錢周轉在網路上尋求借貸時遭情治人員盯上，遭暱稱「百威」、「雲哥」、「JACK JACK」等人利誘，以新台幣或虛擬貨幣作為報酬，要求他提供部隊內可取得的軍事機密資料。檢方對他聲請羈押獲准，並建請法院量處12年重刑。

檢調調查指出，孫男在2022年11至12月擔任馬防部運輸士期間，以手機拍攝馬防部「聯合作戰計畫」、軍中作戰部署等敏感文件後傳給對方，最終僅換得新台幣與虛擬貨幣共6萬多元。軍中幹部因發現他作息異常、深夜頻頻與直播主對話，並疑似偷拍軍事文件，才通報軍事安全總隊介入偵查，後續是否涉及黑幫滲透仍待釐清。

台灣高檢署偵結後痛批，孫男身為軍職人員，本應具備敵我意識與保密防諜觀念，竟為區區數萬元洩漏國家機密，嚴重危害國家安全。檢方依違反《國家安全法》、《陸海空軍刑法》、《國家機密保護法》、《貪污治罪條例》等多項罪名起訴，並建請法院從重量處有期徒刑12年。孫男目前已遭裁定續押，案件將移審高等法院審理。

title: 馬防部中士為6萬淪共諜！竟因「抖內女直播主欠債」　遭求刑12年


title: 粉絲神還原「寶可夢圖鑑」！卡牌、玩偶秒辨識哪隻寶可夢網驚呆


countries: 泰國 柬埔寨

taiwan-subdivisions: 彰化 金門

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▲10名曾在柬埔寨詐騙的男子遭對岸遣返回台。（示意圖／記者鄭逢時翻攝，非當事船班）

記者唐詠絮／彰化報導

曾在柬埔寨從事詐騙、10名遭陸方逮捕台籍男子，刑滿後昨（4日）遭陸方以「遣返出境」方式，由公安戒護，低調抵達金門。引人矚目的是，這10人中有一名來自彰化黃姓男子，而彰化一位賣鹹粥的阿嬤，失聯的黃姓愛孫同樣因涉詐騙案件，在山西服刑。兩人是否就是同一人？消息傳出，立刻引發地方議論與聯想。

根據同船旅客回憶，事件發生在小三通倒數第二與第三班船上。多名理著短平頭、神情緊繃的男子，在戒護下被要求上船，他們舉止低調，卻與一般旅客明顯不同。直到船舶離岸，公安人員才離開碼頭。

據船務代理透露，這批男子年齡約在22至30歲之間，都自稱當年是被騙到柬埔寨，被迫從事跨國詐騙，後來在大陸落網判刑，服刑地點包括山西太原等地。

▲鹹粥嬤的愛孫也因前往柬埔寨遭大陸公安逮捕在山西服刑。（圖／ETtoday資料照 )

彰化地檢署說明，10名台籍人士中1人由彰化地方檢察署發布通緝，該名男子姓黃因先前在台涉及詐欺案，經傳喚、拘提未到而遭通緝，昨晚檢察官以視訊方式訊問後，已撤銷通緝，但諭知限制住居，並限制出境、出海，原有案件將繼續偵辦。

彰化鹹粥嬤的黃姓金孫，去年3月經泰國轉赴金三角後失聯，今年1月經海基會證實因涉詐騙罪遭山西公安拘留，至於昨日該名遣送回台的彰化黃姓男子，是否就是那位讓「鹹粥嬤」日夜牽掛、同樣因詐騙案在山西服刑的愛孫？目前相關單位尚未證實，但已引發外界關注。

title: 鹹粥嬤愛孫回來了？10詐欺犯刑滿歸台　小三通驚現「無證遣返客」


taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 臺北市 泰山 新竹縣 新竹市 成功 新北市

countries: 法國 宏都拉斯 印度 泰國 印尼 韓國 新加坡 臺灣

title: 桃園青創博覽會12/9登場　即起開放報名


title: 桃竹苗分署培訓國手莊致齊、鄭宇翔　亞洲技能競賽奪金


title: 30秒可推估骨折風險！　桃園醫院亮相「AI 驅動的智慧醫療革命」


taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 新北市 龍潭 基隆市 大社區 臺北市

title: 基北北桃社區照顧關懷據點桃園交流  促進長照資源共享


title: 外媒報導中國百艘艦艇集結　張競：解讀者「新手上路」硬扣政治意涵


title: 獨／北市信義區婦人提垃圾袋竟藏貓屍　警方動保急赴焚化爐搜索

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▲臉書社團4日深夜有愛貓人士反映婦人當街丟棄貓屍。（圖／翻攝臉書愛貓聯盟社團）

記者張君豪／台北報導

北市信義區4日晚間有中年婦女亂丟貓屍，引發動保人士透過網路集結展開調查行動，今晚22時有民眾透過臉書動保社團「愛貓聯盟」PO文反映「北市信義區富陽街發現包垃圾袋丟貓屍體、另外一包已經被當事人丟進垃圾車」愛貓民眾當場搶下一包丟入垃圾車內的垃圾袋，經會同轄區警方、動保處人員到場檢視，發現裡面確有貓屍，至於詳細遭丟棄寵物屍體數量，則有待北市動保處人員調查釐清。

對此信義警方表示，目前已經鎖定丟棄貓屍者為中年游姓婦女，經查游女經常透過各種管道認養貓狗，豢養在自家住處，經愛貓人士檢舉後，動保人員在11月下旬曾會同警方以強制力進入信義區富陽街游女屋內會勘，動保處判定：游女飼養貓狗寵物環境髒亂、且空間不足，當天警方配合動保處人員強制帶走部分貓狗到動保處安置。

警方表示，當時游女就遭動保處人員認定不當大量飼養寵物，依法開罰。加上任意丟棄寵物屍體觸犯《廢棄物清理法》可罰1200到6千元以下罰鍰，但仍需動保處確認遭棄置貓屍是自然死亡還是棄養致死，後者將觸犯《動保法》警方將介入偵辦。

目前動保處人員與愛貓人士會同警方到文山木柵焚化爐找尋另個疑似棄置寵物屍體的垃圾袋，至於是否涉及虐待動物，警方說：將待北市動保處人員調查判定後才有定論。

獨／聖石金業吸血煉金術曝！狂蹭總統、高官...檢警抄扣上億資產

獨／聖石金業公益破滅！涉吸金詐騙數千人...女董座等30人被捕

獨／聖石黃金契約太好賺警察記者都被騙 檢扣勞斯萊斯近10億資產

taiwan-subdivisions: 信義區 文山


title: 馬防部中士為6萬淪共諜！竟因「抖內女直播主欠債」　遭求刑12年


title: 鹹粥嬤愛孫回來了？10詐欺犯刑滿歸台　小三通驚現「無證遣返客」

taiwan-subdivisions: 金門 彰化


title: 獨／北市信義區婦人提垃圾袋竟藏貓屍　警方動保急赴焚化爐搜索


title: Audi「新世代TDI柴油V6引擎」亮相！A6房車＆Q5休旅率先搭載


title: 阿布扎比 Zayed National Museum 向公眾開放

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此阿聯酋國家博物館講述該片土地與當地人的故事，並向阿聯酋國父扎耶德的流芳百世致敬。 該博物館的開幕，標誌阿聯酋史無前例文化年的巔峰。teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi 和 Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi 已於較早前相繼開幕，而 Al Ain Museum 也重新開放。

阿聯酋阿布扎比2025年12月5日 /美通社/ — Zayed National Museum 是阿聯酋國家博物館兼 Saadiyat Cultural District 最重要部份，今天向公眾開放。

Zayed National Museum 向遊客提供穿越阿聯酋歷史之旅，從最早證據人類居住到塑造自身文化與身份的文明。該博物館擔當連接七大酋長國的文化橋樑，並突顯該等國家的深厚共同歷史與傳統。該博物館體現已故阿聯酋國父扎耶德 (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan) 生平與阿聯酋歷史緊密相連，並透過他的生平作為一面鏡子，探索支撐該國的價值觀與抱負。

Zayed National Museum 在六個常設展廳內，展出超過 1500 件收藏品。這些展品結合考古文物、歷史文物、視聽與感官體驗，以及當代裝置和真實重建。參觀者參觀之旅可從該博物館 600 公尺長戶外展廳 Al Masar Garden 開始，繼續穿過各個展廳，該等展廳展示扎耶德的生平、阿聯酋的自然景觀，以及該地人類居住歷史。該地人類居住歷史，更以跨越 300,000 年考古發現為特色。它們一起揭示地理、創新、交流與信仰，如何塑造阿聯酋人的身份認同。

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi 主席 Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak 閣下表示：「Zayed National Museum 作為阿聯酋的國家博物館，講述這片土地與人民不斷發展的故事。它展示我們歷史與文化的凝聚力，並提供一個空間。在這空間內，市民、居民與遊客可以於我們人民與土地的故事中，看到他們自己的影子。該博物館將連結過去、現在與未來，而有助我們理解阿聯酋的不斷演變文化故事。它作為世界級研究與學習中心，將啟發和培養下一代阿聯酋策展人、歷史學家和文物保護者，協助我們國家為知識生產與全球文化對話作出更大貢獻。」

該博物館由普利茲克獎得主兼 Foster + Partners 建築師 Lord Norman 設計，它的開幕標誌為該國傳統的新篇章，也標誌為阿聯酋前史無前例文化年的巔峰。在這一年內， Saadiyat Cultural District 的 teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi 和 Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi 相繼開幕，而 Al Ain Region 的 Al Ain Museum 也重新開幕。

深厚根基與永恆傳統：開幕活動為期一個月

Zayed National Museum 為了慶祝這里程碑開幕，誠邀公眾人士體驗一系列表演、工作坊與文化活動。該等活動主題為「深厚根基與永恆傳統」，並將持續至 12 月 31 日。該博物館的室內外空間將透過各式各樣體驗活動，展現阿聯酋的傳統和頌揚當地文化。該活動結合音樂、舞蹈和講故事，從而連結各個年齡層觀眾至該國歷史與文化遺產。

活動重點包括傳統 Razfa 表演與 Naashat 舞蹈、由 Bait Al Gahwa 設計兼伴隨詩歌、Taghrooda 音樂、Nahma 航海歌和 Nadba 山歌的沉浸式 Gahwa 體驗、詩歌表演，以及音樂朗誦。多個實踐工作坊將探索該博物館故事與收藏品所啟發的傳統工藝與藝術品，並提供博物館導覽活動。這些工作坊和導覽活動，均須提前預約。

該博物館的商店 Al Nagwa Boutique，售賣一系列精心挑選的禮品和紀念品。這些禮品和紀念品的靈感，源自該博物館的主題與收藏品。該博物館餐飲選擇包括的招牌餐廳 Erth Restaurant，以及 Al Ghaf Cafe 和 Garden Cafes。

Zayed National Museum 門票與年度會員的售票網站：zayednationalmuseum.ae。

如欲索取更多傳媒資料

請按此下載圖片

阿拉伯語傳媒：Mohammed Al Daqqaq |mohammed.aldaqqaq@flint-culture.com | +971 50 7037115英文傳媒：Dernagh O’Leary | dernagh.oleary@flint-culture.com | +971 547878226

參觀資料

Zayed National Museum | 阿布扎比 Saadiyat Cultural District

zayednationalmuseum.ae

社交媒體

Instagram | znmuae – X | znmuae– Facebook | znmuae– YouTube | znmuae – LinkedIn | znmuae

開放時間：

每日上午 10:00 至晚上 8:00 開放

最後入場時間為閉館前 1 小時

門票：

售票網站：zayednationalmuseum.ae

一般門票：

成人 – AED 70兒童（未滿 18 歲）– 免費長者 – 免費學生或老師 — AED 35

三大會員類別：

個人 — 適合希望更深入了解阿聯酋文化遺產，並靈活單獨或結伴探索的人士，會員費用：AED 210。教師 — 適合希望透過博物館資源、研討會和專業發展機會，而豐富課堂學習的教育工作者，會員費用：AED 150。學生 — 適合希望參與展覽、活動和教育計劃的學生，會員費用：AED 150。

公眾活動：

Zayed National Museum 的各項活動均透過有意義的文化體驗，並專為匯聚家庭、朋友、個人與社區而設計。這些活動提供多個交流、激發好奇心與讚揚阿聯酋豐富歷史與文化的機會。

該博物館的公眾活動歡迎全部人士參加（從文化探索人士到首次參觀人士），提供豐富兼創意學習、分享與參與方式。

我們的活動時間表包括研討會、參觀、講座、會議、音樂及戲劇表演、文化活動與社區活動。每個項目均以啟發兼互動的方式，邀請參觀人士探索該國的歷史與文化。


content_text:
Bitget 與 Julián Alvarez 合作，展現 GetAgent 如何協助每位交易者更明智地操作

塞舌爾維多利亞, Dec. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 全球最具規模的全景交易所 (Universal Exchange，UEX) Bitget 發佈了其與 LALIGA 合作系列的第二段影片，這次影片由足球冠軍 Julián Alvarez 與 Bitget 的人工智能 (AI) 加密貨幣助手 GetAgent 共同主演。 新影片帶有趣味轉折：Alvarez 的「秘密教練」根本不是人，而是為了快速思考、解讀模式而打造的 AI，如同世界級前鋒洞察賽事一樣，協助交易者作出更精準的決定。

影片融匯場邊智慧與交易策略，揭示 Alvarez 在壓力下的直覺反應如何呼應 GetAgent 即時向用戶傳遞的數據主導訊號。 過去幾個月，GetAgent 已透過兩大活動證明其文化感染力：Bitcoin 壁紙日 (Bitcoin Wallpaper Day) 是全球重要活動，用戶透過 AI 生成個人化的 BTC 市場藝術作品；而持續進行的 AI 交易營 (AI Trading Camp) 則引導新手進行實戰及對話式學習。 這些接觸點共同突顯 Bitget 早在是次宣傳活動之前，便已開始建構 AI 驅動的交易文化。 如今 Julián 登場而成為這個故事的新篇章，將 GetAgent 從一項低調的產品突破，蛻變為用戶每日認同並與其互動的鮮明形象。

Bitget市場推廣總監 Ignacio Franco 表示，是次合作彰顯精英足球與精明交易之間的共同真諦： 「頂尖球員的成就不靠運氣，而是取決於萬全準備、時機把握及正確引導； 同理，GetAgent 將原始數據轉化為交易者能有信心執行的決策，為他們帶來同樣的優勢。 與 Julián 合作讓我們能以貼地易明的方式，展示正確的智能如何扭轉形勢。」

Julián Alvarez 的影片延續 Bitget 對其 UEX 願景的拓展，力求將 AI、交易工具與文化敘事在此願景中融合於單一生態系統。 隨著 Bitget 逐漸超越傳統交易所的界限，GetAgent 等功能成為廣泛策略的核心，旨在為用戶提供專業級智能與日常實用性。

頂尖加密貨幣 AI 正變得更加精明。 Bitget 即將為 GetAgent 推出新模式，使其從提供快速市場洞察分析，邁向提供更深層次、更簡單直觀的分析，協助使用者在幾秒內從猶豫不決轉為自信決斷。

這段與 Julián Alvarez 合作的新影片現已於 Bitget 各平台上線，延續該品牌在 UEX 時代融合文化、運動與智能交易的承諾。

關於 Bitget

Bitget 成立於 2018 年，是全球最具規模的全景交易所，為超過 1.2 億用戶提供一站式平台，存取數以百萬計的加密代幣、代幣化股票、ETF 以及其他現實世界資產，同時提供即時獲知比特幣價格、以太坊價格、瑞波幣價格及其他加密貨幣價格的功能。 該生態系統致力協助用戶更明智地進行交易，提供由 AI 驅動的交易工具，實現比特幣、以太坊、Solana 與 BNB Chain 之間的相互操作性，並擴大對現實世界資產的存取。 在去中心化層面，Bitget Wallet 是一款日常金融應用程式，旨在讓加密貨幣變得更簡單、更安全，並融入日常金融生活之中。 目前服務逾 8,000 萬用戶，連接區塊鏈基礎設施與現實世界金融，提供流暢整合出入金、交易、賺取及支付功能的一站式平台。

透過策略夥伴合作關係，Bitget 一直推動加密貨幣普及化，例如擔任世界頂級足球賽事西班牙甲組足球聯賽 (LALIGA) 在東亞、東南亞和拉丁美洲的加密貨幣官方合作夥伴。 配合全球影響力策略，Bitget 與聯合國兒童基金會 (UNICEF) 攜手合作，目標在 2027 年或之前為 110 萬人提供區塊鏈教育。 在電單車賽壇中，Bitget 是世界頂級賽事 MotoGP™ 的獨家加密貨幣交易所合作夥伴。

如欲了解詳情，請瀏覽：網站 | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

傳媒查詢請聯絡：media@bitget.com

風險提示：數碼資產價格存在波動，並有可能出現巨大波幅。 建議投資者只分配能承受損失的資金作投資。 任何投資的價值可能會受到影響，而且財務目標有可能無法實現，或投資本金有可能無法收回。 請務必徵詢獨立的財務意見，並慎重考慮個人的理財經驗和財務狀況。 過往表現並非未來業績的可靠指標。 對由此產生的任何潛在損失，Bitget 恕不承擔責任。 本文中包含的一切內容均不應被視為財務建議。 如需了解更多資訊，請參閱我們的使用條款。

請瀏覽以下網址，查閱此公告隨附的相片：http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7acf9393-e8d2-4b3d-9e65-a9041e0a8581


taiwan-subdivisions: 金門 彰化 伸港 屏東 苗栗

countries: 中國 柬埔寨

title: 鹹粥嬤孫子回來了？ 中國遣返涉詐10台人 名單驚見「黃姓青年」

content_text:
中國公安本月3日透過小三通金廈航線，遣返10名涉洗錢、詐欺等罪名的台籍人士至金門。其中2人未遭通緝，4人為經法院判刑確定的通緝犯，經解送金門地檢署後已押往金門監獄執行；另有4人分別由苗栗、彰化、屏東地檢發布通緝，經各地檢以視訊訊問後均撤銷通緝。

這批10人中，包括一名在台因詐欺案遭彰化地檢通緝的黃姓男子。消息一出，地方立即議論紛紛，因先前曾傳出彰化伸港一名19歲黃姓少年去年離家後失聯，家人今年初收到中國山西省公安局通知，指少年因涉詐騙罪遭羈押，使得相依為命、靠賣鹹粥維生的73歲阿嬤天天以淚洗面，盼孫返家。

據船務代理透露，此次遣返的10名男子年齡約22至30歲，多稱當年被騙至柬埔寨，後被轉往中國從事跨境詐騙，落網後在山西太原等地服刑。消息傳出後，不少人猜測其中的黃姓男子是否就是伸港失聯少年，令在地關注度大增。

彰化地檢署表示，該名黃姓被告因先前在台涉詐案件傳喚不到而遭通緝，昨晚經視訊訊問後裁定撤銷通緝，諭知限制住居並限制出境、出海，後續案件將由檢察官持續偵辦。至於是否為「鹹粥嬤的孫子」，檢方並未證實，仍待家屬進一步確認。


title: 市場預期降息心理鼓舞　歐股收漲

content_text:
〔中央社〕美國最新一批數據強化市場對聯邦準備理事會（Fed）下週及2026年將降息的預期心理，歐洲與亞洲股市今天多半走揚，歐洲3大股市都收高。

倫敦FTSE 100指數上漲18.80點或0.19%，收報9710.87點。

法蘭克福DAX指數上揚188.32點或0.79%，收在23882.03點。

巴黎CAC 40指數揚升34.61點或0.43%，收8122.03點。（編譯：楊昭彥）1141205

一手掌握經濟脈動 點我訂閱自由財經Youtube頻道

免費訂閱《自由體育》電子報熱門賽事、球星動態不漏接


content_text:
台灣東部海域今天清晨01時14分發生芮氏規模3.6有感地震，最大震度新北市三貂角2級。

根據中央氣象署資料顯示，今天清晨01時14分在台灣東部海域發生芮氏規模3.6地震，地震深度為7.6公里，震央位於宜蘭縣政府東北東方30.2公里。

title: 01:14 台灣東部海域發生規模3.6地震 新北最大震度2級

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 宜蘭縣 新北市


content_text:
日本東京台場與有明之間的「夢之大橋」今夜被光海包圍，「LIGHT WALK ODAIBA」以神祕森林為意象，連結18處燈飾景點，打造可邊走邊看的光之長廊。東京都知事小池百合子今晚現身開幕點燈儀式，號召民眾一起享受台場的全新魅力。

今年首次舉辦的「LIGHT WALK ODAIBA」主題為「如寶石般閃耀的神秘森林世界」，遊客可以穿越設置在會場兩端的「光之入口」，欣賞約2公里長區域內散布的18個燈飾景點，打造出可以邊走邊享受的「光之迴游空間」。主會場「夢之大橋」設置有巨大鐘塔「光之鐘樓」，照亮整座大橋。

小池百合子以及前乃木坂46成員與田祐希等人今晚出席開幕式。與田表示，希望大家看到燈飾後能感受到滿滿的幸福。

小池百合子表示，從今天開始，以臨海地區為舞台的燈飾活動「LIGHT WALK ODAIBA」正式啟動。今年的會場橫跨港區、江東區與品川區3個區域，是一片非常廣大的臨海副都心，以在東京奧運時設置聖火台的「夢之大橋」為中心，與城市建設協議會共同合作，一同打造出這片美麗的光之空間。

她表示，連結台場與有明的「中央長廊連」（Symbol Promenade）今年開始運行次世代型的移動交通工具。希望大家能搭乘它，一邊移動一邊欣賞燈光。

小池指出，「此外，在我身後的豐田體育館今年秋天全新開幕，明年春天預定開業的則是複合型的娛樂設施。台場海濱公園的新地標大型噴泉也正加緊施工中。藉由這些契機，我們希望進一步提升城市的吸引力，讓更多的人無論白天或夜晚都能在此享受樂趣」。

這次活動還特別邀請創作歌手asmi與YouTube總播放量超過1.3億次的饒舌歌手Rin音共同創作的全新樂曲「Snow Surprise」，在開幕式上首次公開演唱。

「LIGHT WALK ODAIBA」點燈時間為每天下午4時至9時30分，活動至27日止，從15日起將切換為耶誕節版本燈飾。（編輯：楊昭彥）1141205

title: 日本台場「夢之大橋」化身舞台　光之長廊點亮冬夜

countries: 日本 海地


content_text:
男童玩菜刀被父親賞耳光，導致頭部受傷。彰化地院依《兒少法》故意對兒童傷害罪，判拘役20日。（記者陳冠備攝）

彰化5歲男童把玩菜刀，父親喝止無效後遭摑掌，重心不穩跌撞紗門受傷，哭聲驚動鄰居報案。男子辯稱若不「管教」，恐害其他孩子受傷。然而法官認定，他應優先改善刀具存放環境，而非以暴力懲戒兒童。法院依《兒少法》故意對兒童傷害罪及違反保護令罪，判拘役20日，緩刑2年，並須完成6小時親職教育。

判決書指出，男子與妻子育有4名子女，5歲男童為次子。2023年9月，男子曾因對次子不當教養遭報案，法院核發通常保護令，明令不得再對男童施以身體或精神不法侵害，保護令期間為2年。

今年3月，男童突然拿起菜刀把玩，男子見狀失控，一掌打向男童臉部，孩子往後跌撞紗門，造成頭皮紅腫、瘀青。警方獲報後依違反保護令將男子帶回。男子否認犯罪，並辯稱若不「管教」，兒子可能傷及其他子女。

法院審理時，引述《兒童權利公約》及聯合國兒童權利委員會的解釋指出，體罰無論輕重，皆屬暴力與侮辱人格，與兒童的人性尊嚴與身體自主權相牴觸；照護者即使基於「教育目的」，也不得以合理或輕微體罰作為抗辯，各國均應以法律及教育手段全面禁止。

法官進一步指出，摑掌除了造成身體疼痛，更帶有羞辱意味，容易讓兒童產生被否定、被威嚇的心理創傷，並非任何形式的合理懲戒。

法官認為，雖然男子是出於教育目的而犯罪，但5歲童本來就不應輕易拿到鋒利刀具，且此案後，男童又兩次玩刀割傷兄弟，足見家中刀具放置管理不當，身為父親應先自省如何改善，阻止兒童輕易接觸危險物品，而不是以暴力管教取代教養。

審酌，男子從事臨時工與身障妻育有４子女，判處拘役20日，緩刑2年，並於6月內完成6小時親職教育。

☆自由電子報關心您：若懷疑孩童遭受身體虐待、精神虐待或是性侵害、性騷擾，請撥打113專線，透過專業社工員接線服務，將可盡快救援在生命危機中的兒童。☆☆民眾如遇同居關係暴力情形，可撥打113保護專線，或向各地方政府家庭暴力防治中心求助。☆

title: 5歲童玩菜刀遭呼巴掌  法官認定父親體罰侵權判拘役

events: 性侵 性騷擾


taiwan-subdivisions: 屏東 高雄 萬丹 成功 屏東縣

title: 屏東刑警父子檔同隊聯手破詐騙案 追回400萬贓款

content_text:
屏東縣刑警大隊偵一隊長張豊鵬上週臨危授命接任屏東警分局偵查隊長，兒子張晁瑋原本就是偵查隊偵查員，創下屏東警界父子在同一偵查隊服務先例。張豊鵬剛上任就接獲詐騙案，直接派兒子協助，成功逮獲車手，保住被害人被騙走的400萬元，父子兵聯手建功，傳為佳話。

56歲的張豊鵬在警界服務36年，擔任刑警長達30年，辦案經驗豐富，曾在高雄及屏東地偵破不少重大案件，包括協助逮捕十大槍擊要犯林豐德及破獲海陸上兵遭誤殺案、槍枝改造兵工廠等，責任心與能力深受肯定。

屏東警分局偵查隊長職務上週突然出缺，需要有經驗及領導能力的資深刑事幹部坐鎮，張豊鵬臨危授命接下隊長一職，與分隊長張晁瑋創下父子同隊的罕見先例。而張豊鵬一到任，立即指派張晁瑋到萬丹鄉轄區協助偵辦失金400萬元詐騙案，兒子張晁瑋不負使命，成功協助同仁逮到詐騙車手，追回被害人的400萬元。

張晁瑋說，爸爸是他的直屬長官，隊部同仁都睜大眼睛在看老爸如何指揮兒子辦案，如果做不好，壓力會很大。

屏東縣警局刑警大隊長葉士傑說，張豊鵬從基層刑警做起，工作盡責，兒子張晁瑋追隨父親的腳步，考取刑警，努力進修升任偵查員，對辦案有熱情。張家父子在同一單位服務，沒有偏袒，反而讓隊部同仁對這對父子的工作精神感動，有助提升隊部士氣。

☆提醒您，防詐騙專線︰165，報案專線︰110☆