content_text:
圖、文／CTWANT

美國最大的金融服務機構「摩根大通」（JPMorgan Chase）。（圖／達志／美聯社）根據美國最大的金融服務機構「摩根大通」（JPMorgan Chase）於美東時間20日公布的新文件顯示，該行曾在美國國會山莊暴動後，於2021年2月告知美國總統川普（Donald Trump）及其旗下的旅宿事業，他們在該行的帳戶將被關閉。而這些文件正是川普對該銀行及其執行長戴蒙（Jamie Dimon）提起50億美元訴訟的一部分內容。

據《路透社》報導，2021年1月6日，美國國會山莊遭川普支持者闖入後，多家企業與川普切割關係。其中包括2家曾為川普及川普集團（Trump Organization）提供法律服務的律師事務所，以及美國職業高爾夫協會（PGA of America）。後者甚至取消了紐澤西州貝德明斯特（Bedminster, New Jersey）的川普高爾夫俱樂部，原定主辦的2022年PGA錦標賽（PGA Championship）資格。

美國會山莊外面經常聚集抗議民眾，反川人士還試圖闖入襲擊川普。摩根大通在2021年2月19日寄給川普及川普集團的信函中，並未列明關閉帳戶的具體原因。銀行在其中1封信中表示，銀行有時會「認定維持與摩根大通私人銀行（J.P. Morgan Private Bank）的關係，已不再符合客戶的利益。」

摩根大通發言人未立即回應置評請求，該行的律師事務所「眾達國際法律事務所」（Jones Day）亦未作出回應。該銀行此前曾表示，川普的訴訟毫無根據。過去，川普指控這家美國最大銀行違反自身政策刻意針對他，只為了迎合「政治風向」（political tide）。

川普法律團隊的發言人則表示，這些信函的披露「是1項毀滅性的讓步，證明川普總統整個主張的正確性。」該發言人進一步指出，銀行「已承認非法且故意地對川普總統、他的家人及企業實施去銀行化（de-banking），造成壓倒性的財務損害。」

這些涉及帳戶關閉通知的信件於20日作為動議的一部分提交。摩根大通正在尋求將川普於邁阿密聯邦法院（Miami federal court）提起的訴訟移轉至紐約審理。銀行在其動議中表示：「本爭議與紐約之間壓倒性的關聯性，進一步強化了這一結果的正當性。」

延伸閱讀

雞湯重複加熱「骨肉分離」！年菜剩一堆長輩不捨丟 過來人嘆：除夕吃到現在 為賣「水晶肥皂」跨足演藝圈！南僑董座陳飛龍逝世 享耆壽90歲 歌仔戲國寶王束花辭世享耆壽91歲 生前遺願曝「畢生守護傳統文化」 原文連結

journalist: CTWANT

countries: 美國 澤西

title: 美國會山莊暴動後 摩根大通「1原因」關閉川普銀行帳戶 | 國際


content_text:
圖、文／鏡週刊

許多人逛百貨公司都會跳過一樓，先找廁所，有業者分享冷知識直指，其實這是巧妙的安排，有商業考量，圖為示意圖。（翻攝自Pexels圖庫）不管是春節或週末假日，百貨公司是逛街的好去處，有舒服的空調，又有明亮的環境，有網友觀察發現，很多人走進百貨公司，多數會跳過一樓。貼文引發熱議，網友除了認同，也直言該樓層往往是全棟業績最好。也有網友提到，進入百貨公司會直接上二樓找廁所，對此曾有業者解答，百貨公司一樓沒設置廁所其實有商業考量。

這名網友是日前在Threads發文表示，「基本上，一般人在逛百貨公司一樓都會先跳過」。貼文獲得多數網友認同，紛紛留言表示，「不是奢侈品牌的化妝品，就是手錶或首飾，根本買不起」、「小北百貨除外」、「不是不想逛，是買不起」、「我覺得我在一樓的話會降低那邊的平均水準」。

也有網友直言，不是受眾自然不會停在一樓，「男人才會跳過！」、「你不是受眾而已，我也不是」、「一樓化妝品還買得起，二樓比較該跳過」、「可是好像是整棟業績最好的區」、「你也可以每個月去領取專櫃試用品啊」。

此外，也有網友以有沒有設置廁所，決定要不要在該樓層停留，「一樓又沒有廁所」、「我都直接上二樓找廁所」。大江國際購物中心過去就曾在臉書以「冷知識」解答表示，為什麼百貨公司一樓沒有廁所？因為設置於其他樓層，能夠增加消費者的停留時間，並能逛到其他樓層，提升消費意願。大江也藉此強調，他們購物中心有特別設計廁所。

更多鏡週刊報導阿嬤在門口揮手道別！春節收假最鼻酸的畫面 一票年輕人車上哭爆了吃鼎泰豐不想苦等3小時 網推這幾家分店：最快20分鐘入座撞壞車燈竟笑喊「沒事了撤退！」長髮男騎Ubike載妹肇逃 畫面曝光這下慘了

journalist: 鏡週刊

references: 網友 臉書

title: 為什麼百貨公司一樓沒廁所？背後原因超心機網熱議 | 生活


content_text:
圖、文／CTWANT

仙氣調酒暗藏危機，喝下肚小心「胃穿孔」！急診醫示警：最慘喪命。（示意圖／Pixabay）小酌怡情，一些民眾到酒吧或參加派對時，喜歡來一杯「乾冰雞尾酒」，仙氣飄飄煙霧相當有視覺效果，更成為打卡拍照必備元素之一。但國外一名急診醫師兼毒物專家特雷巴赫（Josh Trebach）指出，液態氮在室溫下會迅速沸騰並轉化為氣體，若在尚未完全揮發前誤食，極低溫不僅會凍傷組織，急速膨脹的氣體更可能造成胃穿孔，若不立即手術引發器官衰竭，恐面臨死亡威脅。

根據外媒《紐約郵報》報導，液態氮的沸點極低，約為攝氏零下195度，接觸皮膚或黏膜會導致嚴重凍傷，而急診醫師兼毒物專家特雷巴赫近日透過社群X發文揭露，許多人為了拍照好看會選擇點乾冰雞尾酒，卻常忽視了飲用前的安全警示。原則上，消費者必須等待煙霧完全消散後方可飲用，但實務上許多酒吧或餐廳並未對服務人員進行專業培訓，也常漏掉關鍵的提醒；一旦液態氮進入胃部，會因劇烈升溫迅速膨脹成大量氣體，導致腹部脹大並壓迫周圍器官，引發呼吸衰竭或內出血。

他引述醫療文獻，早已有數起慘痛案例，像是英國一名18歲少女在飲用液態氮調酒後立即感到劇痛與呼吸困難，急診室檢查發現其胃部已穿孔；由於患處周邊組織壞死，醫師最終不得不採取全胃切除術，將食道直接連接至腸道，對其生活造成永久影響。近期還有一名俄羅斯男子在公司聚餐飲用此類調酒，導致胃部「被撕裂」的意外。過去幾年，曾風靡一時、沾染液態氮的國外零食「龍之氣息」（Dragon's Breath）也曾引發類似的健康警告。

儘管這類調酒能帶來極佳的視覺效果，但特雷巴赫醫師直言，為了社群媒體的讚數而冒著生命危險極不值得。對此，特雷巴赫醫師強調，目前許多地區對於液態氮在餐飲中的應用缺乏嚴格監管，消費者在面對這些充滿霧氣的時髦飲料時務必保持警覺；他也說，與其追求絢麗的感官刺激，選擇不冒煙的傳統飲品或許更為安全。

◎喝酒勿開車！飲酒過量，有害健康，未滿18歲請勿飲酒。

延伸閱讀

辛柏毅29歲生日！家人赴「最靠近他的海邊」慶生 妻淚喊：妝都哭花了 大年初六想中樂透看這篇 招財數字曝！命理師點名4生肖偏財運最強 媽病逝11年 Makiyo指南宮參拜被問「現在才來？」原因曝光 原文連結

countries: 俄羅斯 英國

title: 仙氣調酒暗藏危機 喝下肚小心「胃穿孔」！急診醫示警：最慘喪命 | 健康


content_text:
圖、文／CTWANT

美國投資人正以16年來最快的速度，從自家股市撤出資金。（示意圖／達志／美聯社）美國投資人正以16年來最快的速度，從自家股市撤出資金，原因在於大型科技股的回報逐漸減弱，而表現更佳的海外市場看起來更具吸引力。

據《路透社》援引「倫敦證券交易所集團」（LSEG）旗下評級系統「理柏」（Lipper）的數據，在過去6個月內，以美國為註冊地的投資人已從美國股票產品中撤出約750億美元，其中僅2026年初至今就流出520億美元，創下自2010年以來，年初前8週最大規模的資金外流。

數據進一步顯示，自川普去年1月就職以來，美國投資人已向歐洲股票產品投入近70億美元；相較之下，在川普第1任期（2017年至2021年）4年間，才出現約170億美元的資金流出。

這一轉變發生之際，美元對其他貨幣也持續走弱，使得美國投資人購買海外資產的成本更高。這顯示，過去1年部分國際投資人對美國資產的分散配置趨勢，正逐漸在美國投資人之間形成共識。

自2009年全球金融危機結束以來，「買進美國」的投資策略為國內外投資人帶來豐厚回報，受惠於強勁經濟、企業獲利成長以及科技產業的主導地位，美國股市取得顯著漲幅。

近期，人工智慧熱潮推動標準普爾500指數（S&P 500）在去年創下歷史新高，為美國總統川普（Donald Trump）難以預測的貿易政策與外交路線，以及其削弱聯準會獨立性的舉措，提供了強勁緩衝。

然而，隨著市場對人工智慧可能帶來的風險以及相關成本的疑慮升高，華爾街股票的吸引力逐漸減弱。此前主導漲勢的美國超大型科技股估值大幅上升，使投資人變得更加挑剔，並開始在其他市場尋找更具吸引力的機會。

在過去12個月內，標準普爾500指數上漲約14%。以美元計算，東京日經指數上漲43%，歐洲STOXX 600指數上漲26%，上海滬深300指數上漲23%，首爾KOSPI指數則翻倍。

美國銀行（Bank of America）2月份的基金經理人調查也顯示，投資人以5年來最快速度從美國股票轉向新興市場股票。

瑞銀（UBS）歐洲股票策略與全球衍生品策略主管福勒（Gerry Fowler）表示：「今年我與我們在美國的財富管理部門進行了許多對話。他們都在談論增加海外投資，因為年底回顧以美元計價的海外市場表現時，發現自己錯過了很多。」

理柏的數據顯示，今年以來，美國投資人已向新興市場股票投入約260億美元，其中南韓為單一國家中最大資金流入地，達28億美元，其次為巴西，約12億美元。

川普政策的效應之一，是美元兌一籃子貨幣自去年1月以來已下跌10%。雖然這對尋求海外機會的美國投資人不利，但以美元計價的海外市場股息，將因匯率變動而顯得更為豐厚。

投資人也重新評估人工智慧龍頭企業如輝達（Nvidia）、Meta與微軟（Microsoft）股價幾乎勢不可擋的漲勢，以及高估值帶來的風險。他們開始在傳統工業公司與防禦型股票中尋找「價值」，這些類型的股票在德國、英國、瑞士或日本等海外股市中占比較高。

美國資產管理公司「Nuveen」全球投資策略師庫珀（Laura Cooper）表示，華爾街從科技股與其他所謂成長股轉向價值股的輪動，正在全球層面展開，「我們越來越常看到，美國投資人從估值角度審視全球市場。」

她也提到這主要發生在歐洲與日本的週期性成長回升。作為典型受惠於經濟成長加速的週期性股票之一，歐洲銀行股去年大漲67%，2026年迄今再上漲4%。庫珀補充：「當你把估值因素與成長因素結合來看，我們也在美國投資人身上看到這種輪動。」

美國股票估值仍明顯高於其他市場。標準普爾500指數目前本益比約為21.8倍，歐洲股票約為15倍，日本與中國分別為17倍與13.5倍。

法國資產管理公司「Carmignac」投資組合顧問托澤（Kevin Thozet）亦表示，自2025年年中以來，他們觀察到美國資金流入歐洲的速度加快，「如果從非常長期的角度來看，這或許是1場偉大的全球資產輪動。」

延伸閱讀

歌仔戲國寶王束花辭世享耆壽91歲 生前遺願曝「畢生守護傳統文化」 為賣「水晶肥皂」跨足演藝圈！南僑董座陳飛龍逝世 享耆壽90歲 大年初六想中樂透看這篇 招財數字曝！命理師點名4生肖偏財運最強 原文連結

countries: 美國 英國 瑞士 中國 巴西 法國 日本 德國

title: 「買進美國」逆轉！華爾街資金正加速外流 創16年來最大規模 | 財經


content_text:
圖、文／CTWANT

1輛載有中國遊客的旅遊巴士在俄羅斯西伯利亞的貝加爾湖（Lake Baikal）冰面上行駛時墜入冰層裂縫，造成8人死亡。（示意圖／達志／美聯社）1輛載有中國遊客的旅遊巴士在俄羅斯西伯利亞的貝加爾湖（Lake Baikal）冰面上行駛時墜入冰層裂縫，造成8人死亡。官方表示，事故發生於20日，當時車輛正穿越結冰湖面，最終跌入1處約3公尺寬的冰縫。事故地點湖水深度達18公尺，增加了搜救與打撈的難度。

據《南華早報》報導，伊爾庫茨克州（Irkutsk Oblast）州長科布澤夫（Igor Kobzev）在Telegram貼文中指出，罹難者包括7名中國遊客及巴士司機。1名中國遊客成功逃出車外生還。

此外，俄羅斯緊急事務部（Russian Emergencies Ministry）通報，救援人員在展開潛水行動前，先動用水下攝影設備確認車體位置，以降低搜救風險。

伊爾庫茨克州檢察機關已就此展開刑事調查。伊爾庫茨克旅遊局（Irkutsk tourism office）指出，涉事巴士團由未註冊業者經營，是否涉及違規營運與安全管理疏失，將成為調查重點。

貝加爾湖是全球最深的淡水湖，也是俄羅斯最具代表性的自然旅遊景點之一。近年來，在莫斯科與北京推動互免簽證制度後，中國旅客赴俄人數大幅成長，西伯利亞地區成為熱門觀光路線之一。

俄羅斯外交部表示，外長拉夫羅夫（Sergey Lavrov）已向中國外長王毅致哀。根據外交部官網聲明，拉夫羅夫向王毅表示，俄方「正在進行全面調查」，並希望此事故「不會對雙邊旅遊合作的正面發展態勢造成負面影響。」

延伸閱讀

為賣「水晶肥皂」跨足演藝圈！南僑董座陳飛龍逝世 享耆壽90歲 媽病逝11年 Makiyo指南宮參拜被問「現在才來？」原因曝光 雞湯重複加熱「骨肉分離」！年菜剩一堆長輩不捨丟 過來人嘆：除夕吃到現在 原文連結

countries: 中國 俄羅斯

taiwan-subdivisions: 淡水 成功

title: 中國觀光巴士墜貝加爾湖冰層裂縫釀8死 俄：旅遊團業者未註冊 | 兩岸(大陸)


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財經中心／余國棟報導

受惠旗下「水星光」預售建案進入餘屋交屋入帳尾聲，穩定貢獻土地建設事業營收；同時，核心油品事業於全台83站據點營運效率持續精進及發油量穩定成長，帶動油品事業營收規模持續穩健放大，推升整體營運保持良好動能。北基1月營收達10.52億元年增34.10％，刷新歷年同期新高。（示意圖／記者余國棟攝影）北基國際(8927)受惠旗下「水星光」預售建案進入餘屋交屋入帳尾聲，穩定貢獻土地建設事業營收；同時，核心油品事業於全台83站據點營運效率持續精進及發油量穩定成長，帶動油品事業營收規模持續穩健放大，推升整體營運保持良好動能。2026年1月合併營收達新台幣10.52億元，較去年同期成長34.10％，刷新歷年同期新高記錄。

除既有建案交屋動能持續發酵外，北基進一步指出，近年透過資產活化策略強化土地建設事業獲利結構。日前董事會通過持股52％子公司北基國際開發實業(股)公司處分台南市國安段土地予皇龍開發，交易金額約5.65億元，預計挹注處分利益約1.94億元，除提升土地建設事業整體報酬表現外，也同步回收資金、為後續建案佈局與營運擴張奠定更穩健基礎，進一步放大土地開發事業對集團營運貢獻。

北基將持續以油品事業穩健擴張為基礎，結合土地建設事業區域精選開發與資產活化策略，配合集團規劃之2030年資產活化藍圖，投資建案總銷規模逾200億元，並同步深化綠能發電與綠電交易雙軌布局，提升集團營收結構穩定度與成長性。

三立新聞網提醒您：

內容僅供參考，投資人於決策時應審慎評估風險，並就投資結果自行負責。投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書。

journalist: 余國棟

title: 油品、建案雙引擎全開！這家衝出歷年最強元月 下一步鎖定綠能 | 財經


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財經中心／余國棟報導

製藥包裝自動化設備大廠皇將，受惠於全球製藥包裝市場需求持續回溫，帶動主要國內、國外客戶的拉貨力道穩健，在客戶施作工程如預期進度下，順利完成驗機出貨，是貢獻皇將首月整體營收，交出年增率112.88％大幅成長的重要關鍵。（圖／翻攝自皇將官網）製藥包裝自動化設備大廠皇將(4744) 續展現公司在全球製藥自動化設備、整廠連線設備的高度競爭力與穩健的接單成長動能，為馬年全年營運奠定良好的開局。2026年1月合併營收達6,627萬元，較去年同期營收增加112.88％，持1月營收成長主要是受惠於全球製藥包裝市場需求持續回溫，帶動主要國內、國外客戶的拉貨力道穩健，在客戶施作工程如預期進度下，順利完成驗機出貨，是貢獻皇將首月整體營收，交出年增率112.88％大幅成長的重要關鍵。

展望2026年，美洲、歐洲、印度三大市場的接單能量不弱，充分展現皇將核心技術力與全球競爭力，依目前公司的在手訂單來看，包括標籤說明書同步粘貼機、數粒瓶裝包裝線、液體灌裝瓶裝包裝線等，獲得許多大型藥廠客戶的青睞，加上自韓國銷往美國市場的軟膠囊成型機也接單暢旺，不僅凸顯皇將技術創新與客戶導向策略，確保產品供應鏈穩健，可滿足不同市場客戶的高品質需求，亦在良好的訂單能見度、穩健的出貨排程下，為今年整體營運注入強勁成長的活水。

不僅如此，皇將也持續推進自動化設備智慧化升級，結合視覺檢測、AI分析與模組化設計，提升設備效能與運作穩定性，除了符合製藥企業對高效率、高可靠性的自動化要求，也使皇將在北美、韓國市場、新興市場等能快速取得客戶信任，建立長期合作關係，持續把握全球製藥產業自動化及智慧製造的發展契機，為中長期營運發展建立更具韌性的成長基礎。

三立新聞網提醒您：

內容僅供參考，投資人於決策時應審慎評估風險，並就投資結果自行負責。投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書。

countries: 韓國 美國 印度

title: 製藥設備熱起來！北美、韓國雙市場動能助攻 這家開年營收就翻倍成長 | 財經


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記者呂彥、溫佩穎 / 花蓮報導

新年不平靜！花蓮縣新城鄉大年初三凌晨發生砍人案件，一名葛姓男子懷疑林姓男子與女友有曖昧，相約談判卻爆發激烈口角，林姓男子持刀攻擊，葛姓男子則持榔頭反擊，過程中葛姓男子臉部被砍傷，目前林姓男子已被依殺人未遂罪移送偵辦。

相約談判卻爆發激烈衝突。員警接到報案來到這處民宅，因為春節期間這裡發生砍人事件。

遭砍男子友人：「我剛在睡覺起來他（友人）就受傷了，（現場呼救）攻擊的人已經離開了。」

遭砍男子的友人還驚魂未定，因為兩名事主當天相約在自己家見面，卻演變成見血衝突。

被害人左臉有明顯刀痕，語氣顫抖似乎還在驚嚇中。警方：「你先下去，快點你傷很重快點，你先下去好不好先送醫好不好。」

被害人左臉有明顯刀痕，手拿毛巾止血，語氣顫抖似乎還在驚嚇中。

事件就發生在大年初三凌晨的花蓮縣新城鄉，而衝突起因原來是情感糾紛，遭砍的葛姓男子與動手的林姓嫌犯彼此相識，葛姓男子懷疑對方與女友搞曖昧，就利用女友手機把人約到朋友家，沒想到雙方發生口角衝突，可能是氣不過，林姓男子拿出刀械，葛姓男子拿著榔頭，雙方互相攻擊，過程中林姓男子砍傷葛姓男子後逃之夭夭。

警方已將林姓男子依殺人未遂罪移送偵辦。警方：「把他拉下來。」

雖是春節期間但警方也沒閒著，一天內就在慈濟路與介仁街口抓到逃跑的林姓男子，還在車上查扣1把長刀及1把武士刀，並將林姓男子依殺人未遂罪移送偵辦。大過年的好友爭風吃醋反目成仇，友誼的小船徹底翻了。

taiwan-subdivisions: 花蓮縣 新城 花蓮

title: 疑遭「戴綠帽」設局約友談判 男反遭砍到渾身傷 | 社會


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記者廖宜德、許宇捷、曹勝彰 / 雲林報導

心情差虐狗摔下樓？雲林北港一處大樓凌晨1點半，居民被劇烈聲響吵醒，居然是一隻大黃狗從3樓墜落後重傷，民眾見狀趕緊幫忙救援協助送醫，狗狗骨盆骨折、肝臟破裂。調閱監視器後發現是一名年約40歲的男子，心情不好喝了酒將大黃狗拐騙到租屋處，涉嫌將牠丟下樓，現在被函送法辦。

男子將大黃狗從3樓丟下。夜深不寧靜，住宅大樓先傳來一陣狗吠叫，一隻大黃狗居然從大樓3樓墜落重重摔到地面上，痛苦發出哀號聲，狗狗受重傷，爬起來一跛一跛走到路邊，還好有熱心民眾即刻救援。

熱心民眾：「小黃，你們兩個小心一點喔，來走看醫生喔。」

熱心民眾緊急將狗狗送醫急救。用毛毯把受傷狗狗包裹起來，厚紙板當臨時擔架，再拉推車送醫搶救。

熱心民眾：「走走走送到安全的地方去，等一下又被丟第二次。」

狗狗被檢查出肝臟破裂，骨盆骨折，一度命危。被救援期間，狗狗靜靜趴著望向人類，彷彿在說真的很謝謝你們。就醫後發現牠的肝臟破裂，骨盆骨折傷勢重一度命危。

目擊民眾：「然後有聽到爭吵聲，然後過沒多久狗狗就掉下來了 。」

附近住戶：「我住在樓上，樓下吵吵鬧鬧，而且還有警察，就有人在樓下跟我說有狗被丟下來。那個人有夠惡劣的啦，是被丟下來的沒錯，是被人家丟下來的，牠就倒在這裡，是被丟下來的沒錯 。」

嫌犯不斷出聲引誘狗狗，騙到三樓租屋處。狗狗墜樓地點就在雲林北港一處大樓旁邊的巷子內，22日凌晨1點半左右，民眾第一時間就推測毛孩不太可能自己跳下，懷疑遭人類行兇，果真從監視器中挖出凶手。

嫌犯：「來過來，過來 。」

在事發前兩個多小時，一名年約40歲男子進入巷弄 ，把大黃狗拐騙到三樓租屋處，途中狗狗一度停下，他不斷出聲引誘。

嫌犯供稱喝酒心情不好，就將無辜小狗從高處丟下雲林警分局北港派出所副所長黃詩傑：「俟全案調查完畢後，將依法檢附相關犯罪事證，函送雲林地檢署偵辦 。」

警方將嫌犯抓到後，他供稱疑似因為心情不好喝了酒，涉及惡意傷害無辜生命遭到函送。古人說得好，報應不是不報，只是時候未到，最後還是被抓到。

不良行為，請勿模仿！

taiwan-subdivisions: 北港 雲林

title: 大黃狗慘從3樓丟下！肝臟碎裂 民眾救援心疼 | 社會


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圖、文／鏡週刊

斯里蘭卡挖出一顆重達3,563克拉、極罕見的「紫星青金石（Purple Star Sapphire）」。（翻攝自YouTube頻道@metrotvnews）寶石之國斯里蘭卡（Sri Lanka）再度傳出令人咋舌的發現！一顆重達3,563克拉的極罕見「紫星青金石（Purple Star Sapphire）」日前正式亮相。這顆被命名為「淨土之星（Star of Pure Land）」的巨寶，被認為是目前世界上已知最大的天然紫色星光藍寶石，專家估計其市場價值高達3億至4億美元（約新台幣94億至126億元），身價甚至超越許多傳奇鑽石。

「六道星芒」完美顯現！專家讚：前所未見的極品斯里蘭卡挖出一顆重達3,563克拉、極罕見的「紫星青金石（Purple Star Sapphire）」。（翻攝自YouTube頻道@metrotvnews）根據《每日郵報》報導，這顆寶石最引人注目的特徵在於其獨特的「星光現象（Asterism）」。寶石學顧問阿瑪拉辛格（Ashan Amarasinghe）指出，「淨土之星」擁有非常清晰且完美的六道星芒，這在同類寶石中極為罕見。

所謂的星光現象，是因寶石內部含有細小的針狀金紅石包裹體，在光線照射下呈現出如星光閃爍的光效。阿瑪拉辛格強調：「在這麼大的體積下，星芒還能如此明亮、銳利且居中，這讓它在所有已知的寶石中脫穎而出。」

深藏不露2年！「寶石城」礦坑挖出世界奇珍據了解，「淨土之星」是在2023年於斯里蘭卡著名的寶石產地——拉特納普勒（Rathnapura，意為寶石之城）的一處礦坑中被挖掘出來。有趣的是，擁有這顆寶石的神祕團隊表示，當初它是與一批原石一起被買下的，直到2年後，主人才驚覺這顆石頭非同小可，經過兩家專業實驗室認證後，才揭開其驚世身分。為了安全起見，目前擁有者的身分仍保持高度保密。

身價超越頂級粉鑽！恐刷新全球寶石價值紀錄若國際估價師給出的4億美元估價屬實，「淨土之星」將成為史上最昂貴的寶石之一。對比過往的紀錄，2016年拍出的14.62克拉藍鑽「奧本海默之藍」成交價約5,750萬美元；2022年11.15克拉的「威廉森粉紅之星」則約5,770萬美元。

珠寶專家分析，寶石的價值除了美觀，更在於其「唯一性」與「歷史感」。這顆巨型紫星寶石憑藉其罕見的顏色與驚人的克拉數，已跳脫一般珠寶的價格框架，進入了「無價之寶」的收藏等級。

更多鏡週刊報導歹徒糗了！當街搶24歲女手機「竟跑輸」搶劫失敗 超狂身分曝光睡覺太亮恐影響健康？ 醫點名「3類人」風險高：燈一亮心臟就被迫加班牙痛真的會要命！ 日本最新研究：長輩「蛀牙不補」死亡風險飆增1.7倍

countries: 斯里蘭卡 日本

events: 死亡 搶劫

title: 珠寶界震撼彈！斯里蘭卡挖出「3563克拉」巨型紫星彩寶 飆126億台幣 | 國際


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圖、文／CTWANT

義大利男童接受心臟移植手術，但捐贈心臟被乾冰凍壞，男童術後情況惡化。(示意圖)義大利發生一起震驚社會的醫療疏忽案件，一名年僅2歲的男童多梅尼科（Domenico）在接受心臟移植手術後，因獲贈的器官在運送過程中遭乾冰直接接觸而「凍傷」壞死，經過近2個月的全力搶救，最終仍不幸於當地時間21日宣告不治。這起悲劇引發義大利全國公憤，檢方已正式對參與運送與醫療過程的6名醫護人員展開調查，以釐清事發責任。

根據外媒《BBC》報導，2歲男童多梅尼科的家屬代表律師佩特魯齊（Francesco Petruzzi）證實，多梅尼科於21日上午在拿坡里的莫納爾迪醫院（Monaldi Hospital）過世；院方指出，男童的臨床狀況在當日上午出現「突發且不可逆的惡化」。

回顧這起不幸事件，多梅尼科於去年12月底接受心臟移植，然而該心臟從波爾扎諾（Bolzano）運往拿坡里，路程長達800公里，卻因運送容器不合規範，心臟直接與乾冰接觸，導致組織嚴重凍傷受損。更離譜的是，運送過程中竟未配置溫度計，導致醫療團隊無法第一時間察覺器官處於超低溫的毀滅性狀態。

儘管多梅尼科在術後靠著生命維持系統支撐了近2個月，但小兒科專家小組日前評估認為，其身體狀況已無法負荷第二次移植手術，且長期依賴體外維生設備已導致其肺、肝、腎功能受損。多梅尼科的母親佩特里齊亞（Patrizia Mercolino）在兒子生前曾哀求教宗祈禱奇蹟發生，但在噩耗傳出後，她悲痛表示將以兒子的名義成立基金會，旨在幫助所有因醫療疏失受害的人以及無法順利接受移植的兒童。

義大利總理梅洛尼（Giorgia Meloni）對此表達深切哀悼，承諾政府將全力查明真相，確保相關權責單位給出交代。衛生部長斯基拉奇（Orazio Schillaci）也強調，必須查明這起極其罕見的低級錯誤是如何發生的，以挽回民眾對國民醫療體系的信心。律師佩特魯齊則嚴正聲明，隨著希望的破滅，現在是追究法律責任的開始，家屬要求查閱所有相關醫療記錄，讓這起心臟「被凍壞」的醫療悲劇真相大白。

延伸閱讀

雞湯重複加熱「骨肉分離」！年菜剩一堆長輩不捨丟 過來人嘆：除夕吃到現在 媽病逝11年 Makiyo指南宮參拜被問「現在才來？」原因曝光 大年初六想中樂透看這篇 招財數字曝！命理師點名4生肖偏財運最強 原文連結

title: 移植心臟運送期間遭乾冰凍壞 2歲男童苦撐2個月身亡震撼全國 | 國際


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財經中心／余國棟報導

金蛇年規模成長前10強的台股ETF績效表現。（圖／CMoney）台股金蛇年ETF上演大驚奇，全體ETF規模突破8兆元，細分觀察台股原型ETF表現，根據CMoney統計，共有6檔台股原型ETF規模成長幅度翻倍增，表現最好的前三名分別是冨邦科技(0052)、元大台灣50(0050)、新光臺灣半導體30(00904)，這3檔規模成長名列前茅，除台股投資人買單外，3檔ETF含積量最少4成以上，隨台積電股價直衝1,915元創高，同步帶動高含積量ETF買氣走強、規模竄高。

法人表示，2025年台股「積」情再起，2026年科技巨頭AI資本支出續升下，股價仍有望「積」情難退，唯台積電股價早攀千金價，換算1股也近2千元，對於小資族或零股族負擔不小，建議2026年看好台股，不妨鎖定「高含積量」台股ETF或「高含積量」半導體ETF，繼續參與台股金馬年行情。

根據CMoney統計，截至封關日止，仍有7檔台股原型ETF規模成長翻倍增，包括富邦0052、元大0050、新光00904、中信00894、國泰00922、華美FT00961，以及野村00935等，在金蛇年ETF規模成長率逾100%以上。至於其他進榜ETF，則有台新00947、兆豐00913及富邦006208等，若從規模成長前10強名單來看，不難發現金蛇年台股受惠資金行情及AI成長趨勢，多頭攻勢持續帶領台股科技型、半導體型ETF股價表現響叮噹，規模跟著股價水漲船高。

金蛇年台股完美封關，全年瘋漲10,080點創近年之最，且漲勢全集中權值股、高價股，尤其是權值王台積電盤中以1,925元再創新天價，若統計至封關日，股價超過千元的千金股，亦高達33檔，顯示台股農曆年後開紅盤機率大，在台積電的領軍下，大盤第一季回檔空間有限，偏多架構不變，行情有望延續。

新光臺灣半導體30 ETF(00904)經理人詹佳峯表示，美系科技巨頭包括Google、Meta、Amazon、微軟等，都陸續公布2026年資本支出金額，由於生成式AI熱潮方興未艾，預估巨頭們AI資本支出金額上看6,000億至6,300億之間，已遠超出市場預期，金額甚至超過多數中大型國家的GDP，預估最直接受惠的仍是AI資料中心與基礎建設產業，主要供應鏈則仍完全仰賴台灣包括上游的半導體晶圓代工、封測，以及PCB、散熱、電源管理與下游系統端組裝業者，都有望年後持續迎來新一波訂單熱潮。

另外，詹佳峯認為，年後台股市場的機構法人將重新整隊，資金布局焦點，仍可望由AI引領全球產能供給出現缺口，短期仍無法補上，全年緊貼缺貨漲價題材的DRAM、NAND兩大記憶體族群，根據高盛最新報告指出，外資預估2026至2027年全球記憶體市場將面臨15年來最嚴重的供應短缺，主要來自DRAM、NAND與HBM三大領域的供需缺口同步擴大，同時，高盛指出，記憶體緊張格局2026年仍可能延續，並出現明顯排擠效應，使HBM與伺服器記憶體如同AI晶片，升級到半導體戰略物資層級。

2026年半導體市場多頭趨勢仍難以撼動，並由過去看晶片單峰成長盛況轉為先進製程、記憶體、封測等多峰並進，整體半導體產業的成長曲線，也不再受限於AI單一產品循環，而是進入實體AI、代理AI階段具結構性上升的新成長紅利期，帶動台灣半導體產業鏈持續炙手可熱，相關企業獲利將迎來倍數成長的結構性成長潛力，值得年後啟動分批布局台股半導體型、科技型ETF，完整全面捕捉半導體成長榮景，中長期績效表現值得期待。

三立新聞網提醒您：

內容僅供參考，投資人於決策時應審慎評估風險，並就投資結果自行負責。投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書。

companies: Google 台積電

countries: 台灣 臺灣

title: 台股金蛇年瘋狂！這7檔規模翻倍增 吸金力道好猛 | 財經


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圖、文／CTWANT

國際關係攻勢現實主義大師米爾斯海默（John Mearsheimer）。（圖／翻攝自維基百科）因成功預測俄烏戰爭而聲名大噪的國際關係攻勢現實主義大師米爾斯海默（John Mearsheimer）認為，美國因石油美元體系鬆動與經濟結構性衰退，被迫在未發生戰爭的情況下放棄「台灣保持實質獨立是不可談判的」這條紅線，如同英國撤出了印度、非洲和中東；蘇聯放棄了東歐，「帝國並未被征服，而是被迫1次又1次地讓出自己的地位」，背後的肇因不是軍事失敗，而是因為維持佔領在經濟上不可持續。

米爾斯海默為美國著名國際關係學家及芝加哥大學羅蘭溫德爾哈里森傑出服務教授（R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor），因成功預測俄烏戰爭，並共同撰寫《紐約時報》暢銷書《以色列遊說集團與美國對外政策》（The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy）而聞名。針對台灣問題，他曾在2013年投書媒體主張「美國棄台論」，隨後又在2022年改口稱「美國不會放棄台灣」。

如今，根據《香港01》報導，米爾斯海默描繪了1個他認為正在發生、卻尚未被大多數人察覺的歷史轉折時刻。他指出，美國作為超級大國，正被迫在未開一槍的情況下放棄自身的核心紅線，而這一紅線長期以來象徵著其在亞太地區不可動搖的戰略承諾，那就是台灣地位問題。

他解釋，美國過去70年來始終維持1項明確原則：台灣的獨立不可談判。該立場不僅體現在法律與外交承諾中，更構成可能引發軍事衝突的戰略界線。然而，他認為這條紅線如今並非因軍事失敗而被突破，而是因為結構性力量的轉移而悄然消失。真正發生的並不是戰場上的潰敗，而是經濟與金融基礎的枯竭，使美國在對手尚未動手之前便喪失了槓桿。

米爾斯海默將焦點放在金融結構上，特別是戰後形成的石油美元體系。美國在二戰後建立起1套全球必須以美元購買能源的制度架構，透過與OPEC的安排，使美元成為能源交易的核心貨幣，進而創造對美元與美國國債的持續需求。這種安排使美國得以長期維持赤字與全球軍事部署，並在無需對等經濟代價的情況下行使全球權力。

美國總統川普計劃三月底訪中，會晤中國國家主席習近平，中美經貿政策和台灣議題成焦點。（圖／翻攝自X平台 @BitcoinJunkies）然而，米爾斯海默指出，當美元體系被「武器化」之後，這種結構開始出現裂縫，「一旦你把自己的貨幣武器化，就無法『去武器化』」。美國將金融工具用於制裁，將國際支付系統排除作為戰略手段，使各國開始質疑持有美元的安全性。這種不信任為替代體系創造空間，而中國正是在這一背景下推動人民幣國際化與雙邊結算安排。當巴西、沙烏地阿拉伯與其他國家逐步接受人民幣進行貿易結算時，美元不再是唯一選項，而是眾多選項之一。一旦貨幣成為多選題，其權力基礎便開始鬆動。

在他看來，真正的變化並非中國透過征服擴張，而是透過提供替代選項來重塑國際秩序。當替代性的金融與貿易架構開始運作，各國不再必須依附美元體系，美國的經濟槓桿便自然削弱。這種變化進一步影響安全承諾的可信度。當盟友意識到美國可能無法承擔與中國全面衝突的經濟代價時，便開始重新評估自身戰略定位，日本、韓國、菲律賓與澳洲都在調整政策。聯盟體系不是被擊敗，而是在信譽侵蝕中鬆動。

米爾斯海默以歷史比較來強化其論點，「歷史教會我們1個重要的道理：當超級大國放棄紅線時，其他國家都會重新評估它的實力。」他提到戰後的英國在1945年後面臨類似處境，當時的英國並未在軍事上被擊敗，但在經濟上無力同時維持帝國與國內的重建，只能選擇帝國清算，其中1956年的「蘇伊士運河危機」（Suez Crisis），便象徵著英國勢力範圍的終結。而蘇聯在1980年代末也是如此，它放棄了東歐，不是因為軍事失敗，而是因為維持體系在經濟上已不可能。

類似地，美國如今所經歷的並非軍事潰敗，而是經濟約束下的戰略收縮。他指出，華盛頓撤出阿富汗不是軍事失敗，美軍從未面臨被擊敗的危險，而是因為維持佔領在經濟上不可持續。放棄台灣也不是軍事失敗，美國海軍仍是世界最強，但捍衛台灣會讓國家破產。

他更進一步援引古典歷史作為隱喻，將當前局勢類比為「伯羅奔尼撒戰爭」（Peloponnesian War）中的雅典。雅典擁有強大海軍與廣泛承諾，但其擴張超越經濟承載能力，最終因資源耗盡而衰退。這種衰退不是瞬間崩潰，而是長期結構性消耗的結果。

在這套分析框架下，他認為全球正進入多極體系。中國的崛起不必透過直接對抗實現，只需使美國意識到維持既有承諾的成本過高即可。當軍事支出持續居高不下而經濟回報有限時，軍事優勢反而成為負擔。經濟基礎決定軍事能力，而非相反。若經濟優勢轉移，即使軍事勝利也無法逆轉整體權力結構的變化。

米爾斯海默點出關鍵，中國的軍隊服務於經濟，而美國卻陷入經濟服務於軍隊的結構性缺陷，美國本應成為經濟帝國，卻變成了軍事帝國，把軍事主導放在生產力之上，「結果就是美國可以在軍事上摧毀任何國家，但無法在資源、市場、戰略佈局上擊敗任何國家。美國能贏得戰爭，卻無法贏得資源和市場的競爭。」而這就是美國放棄台灣的原因，不是因為無法在軍事上擊敗中國，而是因為「無法在維持全球地位的同時，承擔與中國開戰的代價。」

他也總結，二戰後秩序的終結並非源於戰敗，而是源於支撐其存在的金融與能源架構轉移。美國面臨的選擇並非是否撤退，而是在有序撤退與混亂崩潰之間作出決定。若選擇談判、縮減承諾、重整戰略，則是可控的衰退；若拒絕調整，則可能引發更劇烈的體系動盪。

在他的敘事中，台灣紅線的鬆動象徵著舊秩序的終結。世界並非走向末日，而是走向多極。問題不在於誰會勝利，而在於各國如何在轉型期避免誤判與衝突。在這個過渡階段，語言與現實之間的落差將成為最大的危險。當政策話語仍停留在舊秩序框架中，而權力結構已然轉變，誤解與動盪便不可避免。

延伸閱讀

媽病逝11年 Makiyo指南宮參拜被問「現在才來？」原因曝光 歌仔戲國寶王束花辭世享耆壽91歲 生前遺願曝「畢生守護傳統文化」 雞湯重複加熱「骨肉分離」！年菜剩一堆長輩不捨丟 過來人嘆：除夕吃到現在 原文連結美國總統川普與中國國家主席習近平在10月底的會面達成貿易休兵。川普一反美國譴責慣例，不願得罪習近平的發言，以及國務院的異常沉默，似乎都是為了確保休兵協議不破裂。（圖／翻攝自X平台 @joni_askola）

countries: 台灣 美國 英國 澳洲 香港 沙烏地阿拉伯 中國 阿富汗 日本 菲律賓 巴西 韓國 以色列 印度

people: 川普 習近平

title: 美國正在放棄「台灣不可談判」的紅線！米爾斯海默曝1主因 | 政治


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2026/02/23 01:35 圖、文／鏡週刊

高齡醫學內科醫師傅裕翔指出，研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升。（示意圖，取自PIXABAY免費圖庫）民眾睡眠的習慣不同，有些人會習慣開燈睡覺，不過這樣的做法可能會健康造成負面影響。高齡醫學內科醫師傅裕翔日前指出，這對本來就有高血壓、心臟病、糖尿病的長輩來說是無形的壓力，「研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升」。

睡覺太亮恐影響健康？傅裕翔說，前陣子門診，一位家屬很困惑地問他，「醫師，我爸膽固醇控制得不錯，藥也乖乖吃，怎麼心臟狀況還是越來越差？」自己多問了一句他的生活作息，才發現，長輩晚上睡覺時，床邊的小夜燈整晚開著，電視不關，窗外路燈直直照進來。家屬本來覺得這只是「老人怕黑」，跟心臟怎麼會有關？

「近年的研究，真的讓人很擔心」，傅裕翔指出，2025年年底有一篇登在《美國醫學會雜誌》（JAMA）的研究指出，睡眠時長期暴露在光線下，會干擾人體的生理時鐘。我們的身體，原本在夜晚應該進入「修復模式」，心跳放慢、血壓下降、壓力荷爾蒙減少。可是一旦光線持續刺激，大腦會誤以為「天還沒黑」，交感神經就一直被拉在工作狀態。

傅裕翔說，研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升。這不是1、2天的影響，而是像水管一直被高壓沖刷，久了，內壁就會受損。

心臟就被迫加班 3類人恐有無形壓力傅裕翔表示，從醫師角度看，會把這件事形容成「心臟沒有下班」。白天工作已經很累了，晚上本來要進廠保養，但燈一亮，心臟就被迫加班。對本來就有高血壓、心臟病、糖尿病的長輩來說，這種無形的壓力，累積速度會更快。

傅裕翔說，更麻煩的是，很多家庭根本沒意識到這是風險。「開個燈比較安全」、「電視有聲音比較安心」，這些出發點都很好，但代價卻是睡眠品質被破壞，心臟長期處在緊繃狀態。研究也提到，夜間光線干擾會影響褪黑激素分泌，而褪黑激素本身，就和血管保護、抗發炎有關。

該如何改善？不過，傅裕翔說，這是一個可以調整、而且效果很快的生活因子。不是要長輩摸黑睡覺，而是把光線「降級」，像是換成低照度、暖色系的小夜燈；電視設自動關機；窗簾遮掉直射路燈，讓房間真的有「夜晚的樣子」。

傅裕翔表示，很多家屬跟他回饋，只是調暗燈光、改善睡眠環境，長輩夜醒次數變少，白天精神反而更好，「這不是奇蹟，而是心臟終於有時間好好休息。照顧心臟，不只在餐桌上，也在臥室裡。有時候，把燈關暗一點，就是在替心臟減壓」。

更多鏡週刊報導吃得暖不用吃得油！醫分析「冬天4種料理方式」超加分 這款對心血管最友善健檢看到紅字好驚慌？營養師曝「5種降膽固醇救星」廚房就有 大蒜、肉桂都入列每天都會打開卻沒清理到？廚房大掃除「這地方」最常被忘掉 清潔方式一次看

title: 睡覺太亮恐影響健康？ 醫點名「3類人」風險高：燈一亮心臟就被迫加班 | 祝你健康 | 三立新聞網 HEALTH.SETN.COM


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記者古芙仙、王紹宇 / 台南報導

年假期間民眾到台南花了6千多元入住雙人房，但是卻被整潔度嚇壞了！除了等待大廳有兩隻大蟑螂外，房間內鏡子髒污、毛髮跟前面房客留下的菸蒂垃圾都還在，毛巾也都是黃污漬，讓他抱怨國旅品質真的要加強。對此業者表示希望當面道歉，觀旅局也啟動查察機制！

飯店大廳蟑螂過了一天，還是沒人處理。旅客拍下旅館大廳休息區，沙發下赫然兩隻已經死掉的大蟑螂，倒在那這麼明顯的位置，直到隔天退房都還在，而進入房間更讓旅客傻眼，全身鏡還有明顯的油漬，陽台上前面房客留下的寶特瓶裝水塞滿菸蒂，就連洗澡的浴巾都很嚇人。

甚至連浴巾都有污垢。當事旅客施先生：「年假期間可以想像房價是高的，對不上那個品質，那真的差太多，而且光是毛巾這一條已經是很嚴重了 。」

旅客事後po文，認為花房間加停車費6250元入住一晚2人房，這個整潔度實在不合格。被指控的是台南連鎖集團旗下的旅店，大廳的蟑螂已經被清理掉，來到房間，鏡子擦乾淨了、備品也齊全了，最重要的是泛黃毛巾，打開來檢查，也都每條都亮白乾淨了。

旅客生氣發文表示。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jerryjerry113）台南市觀旅局專委雅珍：「立即啟動查察機制將立即派員，現場稽查旅宿營業衛生 。」

當事業者：「積極的跟住客聯繫，希望能夠當面致歉 。」

業者表示希望當面致歉，而旅客的po文也引起網路討論，就算是年假期間一晚6千多的價格，這個品質ok嗎？

觀旅局啟動查察，保障民眾權益。民眾：「當然會觀感不好，品質當然國外的比較好，一樣價格的話 。」

有民眾認為，年假期間人潮多疏失在所難免，但也已經提高了房價品質也要維持，目前觀旅局啟動查察，也讓國旅價格再度引起討論。

title: 春節花6千住雙人房 客怨房間太髒毛巾黃 | 生活


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圖、文／鏡週刊

高齡醫學內科醫師傅裕翔指出，研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升。（示意圖，取自PIXABAY免費圖庫）民眾睡眠的習慣不同，有些人會習慣開燈睡覺，不過這樣的做法可能會健康造成負面影響。高齡醫學內科醫師傅裕翔日前指出，這對本來就有高血壓、心臟病、糖尿病的長輩來說是無形的壓力，「研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升」。

睡覺太亮恐影響健康？傅裕翔說，前陣子門診，一位家屬很困惑地問他，「醫師，我爸膽固醇控制得不錯，藥也乖乖吃，怎麼心臟狀況還是越來越差？」自己多問了一句他的生活作息，才發現，長輩晚上睡覺時，床邊的小夜燈整晚開著，電視不關，窗外路燈直直照進來。家屬本來覺得這只是「老人怕黑」，跟心臟怎麼會有關？

「近年的研究，真的讓人很擔心」，傅裕翔指出，2025年年底有一篇登在《美國醫學會雜誌》（JAMA）的研究指出，睡眠時長期暴露在光線下，會干擾人體的生理時鐘。我們的身體，原本在夜晚應該進入「修復模式」，心跳放慢、血壓下降、壓力荷爾蒙減少。可是一旦光線持續刺激，大腦會誤以為「天還沒黑」，交感神經就一直被拉在工作狀態。

傅裕翔說，研究發現，睡眠環境光線較強的人，隔天的心跳與血壓調節會變差，長期下來，心血管事件風險顯著上升。這不是1、2天的影響，而是像水管一直被高壓沖刷，久了，內壁就會受損。

心臟就被迫加班 3類人恐有無形壓力傅裕翔表示，從醫師角度看，會把這件事形容成「心臟沒有下班」。白天工作已經很累了，晚上本來要進廠保養，但燈一亮，心臟就被迫加班。對本來就有高血壓、心臟病、糖尿病的長輩來說，這種無形的壓力，累積速度會更快。

傅裕翔說，更麻煩的是，很多家庭根本沒意識到這是風險。「開個燈比較安全」、「電視有聲音比較安心」，這些出發點都很好，但代價卻是睡眠品質被破壞，心臟長期處在緊繃狀態。研究也提到，夜間光線干擾會影響褪黑激素分泌，而褪黑激素本身，就和血管保護、抗發炎有關。

該如何改善？不過，傅裕翔說，這是一個可以調整、而且效果很快的生活因子。不是要長輩摸黑睡覺，而是把光線「降級」，像是換成低照度、暖色系的小夜燈；電視設自動關機；窗簾遮掉直射路燈，讓房間真的有「夜晚的樣子」。

傅裕翔表示，很多家屬跟他回饋，只是調暗燈光、改善睡眠環境，長輩夜醒次數變少，白天精神反而更好，「這不是奇蹟，而是心臟終於有時間好好休息。照顧心臟，不只在餐桌上，也在臥室裡。有時候，把燈關暗一點，就是在替心臟減壓」。

更多鏡週刊報導吃得暖不用吃得油！醫分析「冬天4種料理方式」超加分 這款對心血管最友善健檢看到紅字好驚慌？營養師曝「5種降膽固醇救星」廚房就有 大蒜、肉桂都入列每天都會打開卻沒清理到？廚房大掃除「這地方」最常被忘掉 清潔方式一次看

title: 睡覺太亮恐影響健康？ 醫點名「3類人」風險高：燈一亮心臟就被迫加班 | 健康


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圖、文／CTWANT

搭載獵戶座太空船的阿提米絲二號太空發射系統（SLS）火箭位於移動發射架上。（圖／達志／美聯社）美國國家航空暨太空總署（National Aeronautics and Space Administration，NASA）新1代登月火箭於美東時間21日再度遭遇挫折，幾乎可以確定將使數十年來首度載人登月的任務推遲至4月。

據《南華早報》報導，在宣布將「阿提米絲二號」（Artemis II）任務目標發射日定為3月6日的隔天，NASA便揭露了最新問題。該任務將是人類半個多世紀以來首次飛往月球的載人飛行。

官員表示，在夜間作業期間，火箭上面級的氦氣流動出現中斷。穩定的氦氣流量對於清除引擎內殘餘物以及為燃料箱加壓至關重要。

這起氦氣問題與本月稍早「太空發射系統」（Space Launch System，SLS）火箭在倒數彩排測試期間出現的氫燃料洩漏無關。當時的氫氣洩漏迫使測試重來。

NASA署長艾薩克曼（Jared Isaacman）表示，氦氣流動停滯可能與濾網、閥門或連接板故障有關。不論具體原因為何，若要接觸並修復該區域，唯一方式是將火箭送回佛州甘迺迪太空中心（Kennedy Space Centre）的載具裝配大樓（Vehicle Assembly Building）。

艾薩克曼在社群媒體上表示：「我們將開始準備轉返（rollback）作業，這意味著3月的發射窗口將不再納入考量。」他補充，NASA下1次發射機會將落在4月初或4月底，「我理解大家對這一發展感到失望。最感失落的，其實是NASA團隊，他們為這項偉大使命不懈努力。」

稍早，NASA也表示，正準備將這枚98公尺高的火箭送回機棚進行維修，雖然他們曾評估是否能在發射台上直接完成修復作業。

此前，氫燃料洩漏問題已使阿提米絲二號繞月飛行任務延後1個月。19日進行的第2次加注測試幾乎未發現洩漏，使管理團隊有信心將發射目標定於3月。4名太空人已於20日晚間進入為期2週的隔離期，以避免病菌感染。

這次中斷的氦氣流動問題，發生在SLS火箭的臨時低溫推進級（interim cryogenic propulsion stage，ICPS）。該上面級對於在升空後，將獵戶座（Orion）載人太空艙送入適當的高空地球軌道進行系統檢查至關重要。完成上述任務後，該上面級應與獵戶座分離，並成為艙內太空人練習對接技術的目標，為未來登月任務做準備。

在1968年至1972年間的阿波羅計畫（Apollo programme）中，共有24名太空人飛往月球。相比之下，新1代的阿提米絲計畫（Artemis programme）至今僅完成1次飛行，即2022年的1次無人繞月任務。

該次首飛同樣在發射前受到氫燃料洩漏困擾，並出現與此次類似的氦氣問題。至於在阿提米絲計畫下實現首次載人登月，至少還需要數年時間。

延伸閱讀

雞湯重複加熱「骨肉分離」！年菜剩一堆長輩不捨丟 過來人嘆：除夕吃到現在 歌仔戲國寶王束花辭世享耆壽91歲 生前遺願曝「畢生守護傳統文化」 媽病逝11年 Makiyo指南宮參拜被問「現在才來？」原因曝光 原文連結

title: 「阿提米絲二號」再遇瓶頸 NASA載人登月任務恐延至4月 | 國際


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圖、文／鏡週刊

日本一項最新醫學研究指出，老人千萬不可忽視蛀牙、牙痛等警訊。（示意圖，由AI生成）許多長輩認為「年紀大了掉牙很正常」或是「蛀牙不痛就不用管」，但日本一項最新醫學研究發出了嚴正警告。由大阪公立大學與大阪大學組成的研究團隊發現，75歲以上的高齡者若放任蛀牙不治療，或是健康牙齒數量過少，其死亡風險將比一般人高出約1.7倍。專家指出，這不僅關乎營養攝取，更與致命的「誤嚥性肺炎」息息相關。

追蹤19萬人發現：牙齒健康與壽命成正比根據《YAHOO JAPAN》報導，研究團隊針對大阪約19萬名75歲以上的居民進行大規模追蹤調查。研究將受試者依據「健康牙齒與已治療牙齒」的合計總數分為六組，並排除年齡、基礎疾病等干擾因素進行數據分析。

結果顯示，與擁有21顆以上健康牙齒的長輩相比，口中完全沒有健康牙（0顆組）的男性死亡風險高出1.74倍，女性則高出1.69倍。這項研究成果已正式發表於國際學術期刊，證實了口腔健康是長壽的關鍵指標。

關鍵殺手：誤嚥性肺炎與肌肉萎縮為什麼「爛牙」會引發死亡危機？大阪公立大學講師大槻奈緒子指出，當口腔內的蛀牙菌與細菌大量滋生，高齡者若不慎將唾液或食物殘渣吸入氣管，極易引發嚴重的「誤嚥性肺炎（吸入性肺炎）」，這在臨床上是高齡者的主要死因之一。

此外，東京都健康長壽醫療中心理事長秋下雅弘補充，牙齒缺失會導致長輩無法咀嚼肉類、魚類等蛋白質來源，進而造成營養不良與全身肌肉萎縮（肌少症）；同時，因缺牙導致的對話困難，也會加速認知功能退化，引發一連串的健康連鎖反應。

專家建議：別等牙痛才看診，定期檢查是保命符研究團隊呼籲，長輩不應忽視口腔內的任何細微病變。即使是已經蛀掉的牙齒，積極接受治療、修補或裝設假牙，恢復咀嚼功能並維持口腔清潔，都能有效降低細菌感染與肺炎的風險。

台灣與日本同屬高齡化社會，醫師建議家屬應定期陪伴長輩前往牙科診所檢查。這不僅是為了「美觀」或「飲食」，更是為了守護長輩的生命安全，讓他們能遠離「從口而入」的致命危機。

更多鏡週刊報導到底有多正？18歲男大生夜衝險猝死 急診醫：載到班花太興奮146光年外驚見「第二個地球」？NASA數據挖出宜居新行星 氣溫恐低至-70度

countries: 日本 台灣

title: 牙痛真的會要命！ 日本最新研究：長輩「蛀牙不補」死亡風險飆增1.7倍 | 健康


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圖、文／鏡週刊

男大生夜衝載到班花，太過興奮導致急性心肌梗塞。（示意圖，photoAC）心臟內科醫師蔡松恩日前上節目分享急診病房案例，一名剛上大學的18歲男大生，首次體驗夜生活夜衝陽明山。不料深夜騎車下山途中，男大生突然胸悶不適，吃早餐時臉色更是慘白如A4紙，送醫檢查發現是急性心肌梗塞。醫師推斷，男大生因生活作息劇變，加上幸運載到班花下山，過度興奮導致血管抽筋。

蔡松恩在《醫師好辣》節目中回憶，該名男大生來自台中，上大學前受父母嚴格管控，生活作息極為規定，考進台北學校住進宿舍，終於能呼吸到自由的空氣。某天因為隔天早上沒課，男大生當晚便答應同學們一起去唱歌、看夜景吃消夜。

只是半夜下山途中，男大生開始感到胸悶，但好不容易抽到班花，對方還緊緊抱著他，礙於面子只能硬撐。結果一行人抵達早餐店後，男大生臉色慘白得像一張A4紙，馬上被同學們送到急診室，照了心電圖，發現是急性心肌梗塞，血管整個塞住。

蔡松恩當下十分訝異，因為男大生才剛滿18歲，也沒有三高病史，詢問後推測，男大生平時作息很正常，突然熬夜喝酒，加上載到班花太過興奮，種種因素造成交感神經過度活化，引發所謂的血管痙攣，如同血管抽筋。主持人和來賓聽完都忍不住好奇「班花是多漂亮啊？」

好在施打大劑量硝化甘油後，男大生情況迅速好轉，臉色恢復紅潤。不過蔡松恩提醒，血管痙攣若沒有及時處理，可能引起心律不整，嚴重甚至可能猝死。

★《鏡週刊》關心您：未滿18歲禁止飲酒，飲酒過量害人害己，酒後不開車，安全有保障。

更多鏡週刊報導人氣韓援啦啦隊撞臉瀨戶環奈 鄉民分不清誰是誰：根本雙胞胎有片／官方認證「經典賽傳奇」 回顧王建民12局無失分好投公司尾牙「1人1個薯來堡」超寒酸 老闆留一手結局逆轉員工嗨翻：真香

title: 到底有多正？18歲男大生夜衝險猝死 急診醫：載到班花太興奮 | 健康


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圖、文／鏡週刊

讀音傻傻分不清！有網友要兌換超商拿鐵，但店員卻跳針問「你要月幻嗎？」；示意圖。（翻攝自pixabay）生活上經常可以因為讀音錯誤，產生「雞同鴨講」的故事！1名網友前往超商想兌換冰拿鐵，卻被店員數度詢問是否要「月幻」，起初還以為是新品連忙婉拒，結果發現對發其實要說「兌換」，貼文曝光後，吸引不少人分享自己遇過的奇葩經歷。

有網友於Threads發文，去超商要使用券兌換冰拿鐵時，店員卻問「你要月幻嗎？」他一臉茫然腦中瞬間浮現「我沒有要這個啊」的想法，還以為是新品項或隱藏版口味，於是只能重申「我是要冰拿鐵」。孰料店員再次問「對，你要用月幻的嗎？」他更加困惑，因為不解何謂「月幻」，婉拒地說「不用，一般冰拿鐵就好」接著店員一句「你是要用這個券月幻對嗎？」讓他恍然大悟，原來對方是要講「兌換」。

不少網友紛紛分享平常會遇到各種奇怪讀音的經歷，「我還有聽過買房下『幹』旋的」「還有是嵌入不是崁入，拜託不要再砍了救命喔」「我前男友把腳踝講成腳『裸』，害我一直聽不懂」「遇過好多客人，榛果拿鐵唸棒果拿鐵？戚風蛋糕唸威風蛋糕…」「我聽過隔壁桌客人點 『蛙魚炒飯』，最厲害的是店員聽得懂， 我想了老半天 還在想這是啥」「我男友說牛『助』條，第一次聽到我整個愣住」。

也有人無奈附和，「還有考卷ㄐㄩㄢˋ，彩券ㄑㄩㄢˋ」「還有塗氟ㄈㄨˊ，牙助唸塗佛ㄈㄛˊ，到底是想塗哪一尊佛（？」「遇過肯德基店員問我要不要試試『雲指雞』。『吮指雞』，吮≠允，讀音：ㄕㄨㄣˇ」「到現在還是有人說罹（ㄌㄨㄛˊ）難（ㄋㄢˋ）歐」「Q:要喝大ㄨㄢˇ子嗎？A:是大ㄩㄢˋ子😡。大苑子」「租賃是ㄌㄧㄣˋ、非ㄖㄣˋ；烘焙是ㄅㄟˋ、非ㄆㄟˊ，所以是焙ㄅㄟˋ茶！聽到ㄆㄟˊ茶真的很躁🤬」。

更多鏡週刊報導網紅狂嗑新鮮海鮮GG了！全身抽搐送醫2天亡 吃播最後身影曝光超越365元鹹酥雞男！大學生徵陪玩東京「體驗女友感」 要她排行程還AA制網友酸爆了點365元鹹酥雞就台女拜金？網列24超扯條件 狂酸「霸道羅漢腳」

title: 超商換冰拿鐵「店員跳針狂問2字」 真相曝光他傻眼！苦主們好有共鳴 | 生活


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日本「每日新聞」於21、22日進行全國民調，日本首相高市內閣支持率較1月24、25日上次民調的57%上升4個百分點，來到61%；不支持率則由29%降至25%。另外，選民在眾院選舉時最重視的因素，是候選人「是否支持高市早苗」。

日本總務大臣林芳正（左）、首相高市早苗（中）、外交大臣茂木敏充（右）20日在首相官邸參加內閣會議。（共同社）報導指出，高市內閣支持率雖在1月首度跌破60%，但隨著8日舉行的眾議院選舉自民黨大勝，內閣支持度再度回升至60%以上。

高市早苗為日本史上首位女首相與自民黨總裁。公明黨退出聯合執政後，加入聯合政府的日本維新會並未派出閣僚，而是以「閣外協力」形式，依據政策協議協助政權運作。

高市早苗於1月23日通常國會召集當天解散眾議院，自民黨在眾院選舉中單獨取得超過2/3的316席，若加上維新會，合計更占眾院約3/4席次。

高市早苗競選時承諾將「減稅並擴大支出」，促進經濟成長。（圖／翻攝畫面）同一份調查也詢問民眾在此次眾院選舉投票時最重視的因素。結果顯示，候選人「是否支持高市早苗」以31%居冠，其次為「所屬政黨或候選人的政策」（25%），第3為「候選人的人格與政治態度」（14%）。

第4名以後依序為：「（自民黨以外）政黨黨魁的評價」（6%）、「報紙、電視、社群媒體」（5%）、「其他」與「地方振興」（各3%）。另有14%受訪者表示「沒有去投票」。

本次調查採用智慧型手機網路調查方式d Survey，透過NTT DOCOMO營運的d Point Club會員問卷服務，從全國約7700萬名18歲以上民眾中隨機抽樣，最終回收1982份有效樣本。

title: 日媒民調：選民投票最重視候選人「是否支持高市」 | 國際


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記者黃俊育 / 新北報導

新學期即將開始，新北市政府提醒學童及家長，「鮮奶幸福週」將於2月23日開學日同步啟動，2-12歲孩子可自開學第一天起，憑「新北兒童卡」或「新北幸福卡」，前往七大通路每週免費兌換一瓶鮮奶、豆漿或優酪乳，透過穩定補充乳品，為新學期補充營養、增添活力。

教育局表示，學童正處於成長發育關鍵期，需要穩定的鈣質及營養補充，新北市推動「鮮奶幸福週」，以制度化方式提供乳品補充，補助對象涵蓋就讀本市公私立國小及幼兒園在學學生，以及設籍新北市的2至12歲學齡與學齡前兒童，讓孩子在日常生活中養成穩定飲用習慣，同時減輕家庭負擔。

▲新北鮮奶幸福週2月23日正式啟動。(圖/新北市教育局 提供)

自2月23日開學日起，家長或學童可憑「新北兒童卡」或「新北幸福卡」，在全家、7-Eleven、萊爾富、OK超商、全聯福利中心、美廉社及家樂福部分門市等七大通路，每週免費兌換一瓶鮮奶、豆漿或優酪乳；另外針對周邊缺乏兌換據點的5所偏鄉學校，會由合作乳品廠商辦理專案配送，直接送達學校或指定地點，確保學童補充營養不中斷。

教育局也提醒，新北兒童卡與幸福卡除了能兌換鮮奶、豆漿外，還享有多元加值回饋，包含憑幸福卡可兌換新北市輕軌1日票券（最多4張），觀光工廠享優惠、客家園區DIY體驗、八里焚化廠游泳池免費以及海洋與環教體驗系列活動、兌換兒藝節卡牌等；另外搭配「鮮奶幸福週」專屬活動，提供抽獎、折扣、小禮物或體驗活動，讓幸福感再加分。相關資訊公告於「鮮奶幸福週」專屬網站https://milk.ntpc.edu.tw ，歡迎家長多多查詢利用。

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 新北市 八里

title: 開學日小確幸！新北「鮮奶幸福週」2/23 起跑     2-12 歲童憑卡每週免費領乳品


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US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would increase the global 10 percent tariff he announced one day earlier to 15 percent, stirring up more economic turbulence as he lashed out at the US Supreme Court over its ruling that his preferred mechanism for applying tariffs was illegal.

“I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump wrote on a social media post.

Trump is rushing to preserve his trade agenda following the court’s ruling against his use of an emergency-powers law to impose his “reciprocal” tariffs around the world and to use levies as a cudgel to bend foreign governments to his will. Enraged by the decision, Trump initially imposed a 10 percent global tariff on foreign goods on Friday, hours after the high court ruling, as he seeks to maintain the duties he insists are key to his economic and national security power.

US President Donald Trump, front, attends a dinner with US governors at the White House in Washington on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

However, his post on Saturday made clear he had decided that 10 percent was not enough, even though he said on Friday: “Every single thing I said today is guaranteed certainty.”

The US president’s efforts to restore and maintain the tariffs underscored the economic volatility ahead. The tools he is left with are less nimble than the sweeping authority he had claimed under emergency powers and would be subjected to legal challenges.

Additional details were not immediately forthcoming on how soon the 15 percent tariff would go into effect. The initial 10 percent tariffs Trump announced on Friday were scheduled to go into effect tomorrow, according to a White House document.

title: Trump boosts new tariff rate to 15% from Friday’s 10%


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The Central Election Commission has amended election and recall regulations to require elected office candidates to provide proof that they have no Chinese citizenship, a Cabinet report said.

The commission on Oct. 29 last year revised the Measures for the Permission of Family-based Residence, Long-term Residence and Settlement of People from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民在台灣地區依親居留長期居留或定居許可辦法), the Executive Yuan said in a report it submitted to the legislature for review.

The revision requires Chinese citizens applying for permanent residency to submit notarial documents showing that they have lost their Chinese household record and have renounced — or have never possessed — their Chinese passport, thereby preventing dual citizenship, the report said.

Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Li Zhenxiu holds up an application to renounce her Chinese citizenship in Taipei on Feb. 3. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

The commission on Nov. 3 last year further amended the Act on Restoring Taiwanese Citizenship to Chinese Citizens in Taiwan (在台原有戶籍大陸地區人民申請回復台灣地區人民身分許可辦法) to include major contributions to Taiwan’s defense security, international image and public interest apart from humanitarian reasons as a requirement for the restoration of a Chinese citizen’s Taiwanese nationality, it said.

On Nov. 27 last year, the commission amended Article 15 of the Implementation Regulations of the Public Officials Election and Recall Law (公職人員選舉罷免法施行細則) to require elected candidates to provide affidavits proving that they have no household registration or Chinese passport and that they do not hold citizenship of other countries, the report said.

Candidates are also required to publish the affidavits in election bulletins for voters to review, it said.

To attract more international talent to Taiwan, the amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by the legislature last year have come into force from Jan. 1 and focuses on recruiting talent from the US and New Southbound Policy countries, the report said.

As of the end of November last year, 58,873 foreign professionals and 20,787 foreign specialist professionals were approved, of whom 15,169 were granted a Taiwan Employment Gold Card, it said.

In related news, an official said supporting documents presented by Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀) to prove her renouncement of Chinese citizenship are suspicious.

An official familiar with cross-strait regulations yesterday said that Li obtained permanent residency in 1999 — six years after she got married and moved to Taiwan — when the requirement to renounce Chinese citizenships has yet to be included in the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (兩岸人民關係條例).

The official said that it is weird that Li said in her supporting documents that she had her Chinese citizenship revoked after marrying into a Taiwanese family on April 26, 1993.

This is not a usual approach to citizenship renouncement of Chinese spouses, and does not align with regulations and practices at the time, the official said, adding that it could constitute a contravention of the Criminal Code for alleged “public official making a false entry” if the content of her document is found to be falsified.

title: Commission amends dual citizenship rules


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Hungary would block the EU’s next package of sanctions against Russia, the Hungarian minister of foreign affairs said yesterday, the latest step aimed at pushing Ukraine to resume the flow of Russian oil through a pipeline supplying Hungarian refineries.

Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have been cut off since Jan. 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Western Ukraine.

Slovakia and Hungary said Ukraine is to blame for the prolonged outage.

Firefighters put out a fire in Kyiv yesterday after a drone hit a residential building during a Russian air attack. Photo: AP

The EU is preparing its 20th sanctions package against Russia over the war in Ukraine. While negotiations are ongoing, many member countries would like to agree the package in time for the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is tomorrow.

“At tomorrow’s Foreign Affairs Council, the EU aims to adopt the 20th sanctions package. Hungary will block it,” Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto wrote on social media.

“Until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, we will not allow decisions important to Kyiv to move forward,” Szijjarto said.

The issue has caused one of the angriest disputes yet between Ukraine and neighboring Hungary and Slovakia. Both countries are EU and NATO members, but their leaders have bucked the largely pro-Ukrainian consensus in Europe to cultivate warm ties with Moscow.

On Friday, Szijjarto said Hungary would block a 90 billion euro (US$106.1 billion) EU loan for Ukraine to fund its defense against Russia until the Druzhba shipments resumed.

The EU needs to amend its budget law to unlock the loan — a step requiring unanimous backing.

Hungary and Slovakia have also threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine over the issue.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday condemned what it described as “ultimatums and blackmail” by the Hungarian and Slovak governments.

title: Hungary says it is to block new EU sanctions on Russia


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CLOSELY MONITORED: The guided missile frigate made the transit without incident, but Chinese state media claimed PLA forces had watched its sailing closely

An Australian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, an Australian government source said yesterday, in the latest transit of the sensitive sea lane by a US ally, which Chinese state-backed media said was tracked and monitored by the Chinese military.

Beijing views the narrow, highly strategic strait as Chinese territorial waters and has responded aggressively on occasion to foreign navies sailing there.

The HMAS Toowoomba an Anzac-class frigate, “conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on Friday and Saturday as part of a Regional Presence Deployment in the Indo-Pacific region,” the source said.

Royal Australian Navy vessel HMAS Toowoomba is shown at Changi Naval Base during a maritime defence exhibition in Singapore on May 4, 2023. Photo: Reuters

“All interactions with foreign ships and aircraft were safe and professional,” the source said.

China’s state-run Global Times, citing an unnamed Chinese military source, reported late on Saturday that “the Chinese People’s Liberation Army [PLA] carried out full-process tracking, monitoring and alert operations throughout the transit.”

US warships traverse the Strait every few months, drawing censure from Beijing, and some US associates, such as France, Australia, the UK and Canada, have occasionally transited the Strait.

China has increased its military presence around Taiwan and staged its latest major exercises around the nation in late December last year.

The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement yesterday that it closely monitors the skies and waters around Taiwan and that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway for which all countries enjoy the right of freedom of navigation.

“The Ministry of National Defense will not proactively disclose the movements of aircraft and ships of friendly allied countries,” it added, without elaborating.

title: Australian frigate transits Taiwan Strait unimpeded


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Taiwan must act to preempt potential Section 301 investigations as US President Donald Trump moves to a new tariff strategy, following a US Supreme Court ruling that voided tariff measures, an academic said yesterday.

Countries running the largest trade surpluses with the US face a growing likelihood of Section 301 investigations, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research president Lien Hsien-ming (連賢明) said.

Section 301 refers to a provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows Washington to impose retaliatory tariffs over perceived unfair trade practices, including the running of large trade surpluses.

Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research President Lien Hsien-ming is pictured in Taipei posing for a photograph. Photo: Hsu Tzu-ling, Taipei Times

Because Taiwan has become the fourth-largest source of the US’ trade deficit, totaling about US$160 billion, it would not be that difficult for Washington to build a case for a Section 301 probe, Lien wrote on social media on Sunday.

“Taiwan must brace for the next round of Section 301 investigations,” Lien said, urging the government to prepare a response strategy without suggesting what it might be.

The issue for Taiwan is that its trade surplus with the US has ballooned in the past two years due to massive demand for chips and servers for use in data centers or artificial intelligence products, items that it specializes in.

Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a 15 percent global surcharge, up from 10 percent announced earlier, after the US Supreme Court on Friday struck down tariffs he had imposed on trading partners, including Taiwan, under the

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The Trump administration vowed to leverage additional trade tools, including Section 301 investigations, to circumvent the ruling and press ahead with his tariff agenda.

Lien observed that Section 122 does not permit country-specific tariff rates and therefore would not necessarily reduce the trade deficit, but it allows the administration to quickly restore tariff coverage for up to 150 days without congressional approval.

Lien expected the Trump administration would increasingly rely on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 — a national security-based measure — alongside Section 301 to restore differentiated tariff rates.

For the moment, all articles and parts of articles that currently are or later become subject to section 232 actions are exempt from the Section 122 temporary import duty, according to a statement issued on Friday by the White House.

Taipei and Washington signed the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on Feb. 12, cutting tariffs to 15 percent from the 20 percent under the IEEPA, while Taiwanese semiconductors were granted most-favored treatment under Section 232.

However, the agreement has yet to be reviewed and ratified by the Legislative Yuan.

On Saturday, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) urged the government to renegotiate the deal, and clarify whether the agreement is still valid.

The KMT’s Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), deputy legislative speaker, yesterday warned that Trump would utilize every measure possible to address trade deficits, and he called on the government to manage the situation and help industries prepare for potential fallout.

Former Taiwan People’s Party legislator Chang Chi-kai (張?楷) said that since the trade issue is still evolving, Taiwan should “wait and see.”

Chang suggested that the Legislative Yuan delay reviewing the agreement until the US policy direction becomes fully clear.

The Legislative Yuan had arranged a session for the Cho and Cabinet members to report on the trade agreement and its impacts on Taiwan next month.

title: US trade deficit could pose issue: academic


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TAKING A CUE: Looking at India’s approach to their vest web of languages, experts say that could be a useful reference as Taiwan develops its own local AI

Taiwanese experts attending the 4th artificial intelligence (AI) Impact Summit in New Delhi said they were struck by India’s development of AI models capable of handling dozens of dialects, and described India’s approach as a valuable reference for Taiwan’s own “sovereign AI” efforts.

The summit, held from Monday to Friday last week, brought together global tech industry leaders and political figures from multiple countries, with Taiwan also sending representatives.

Liu Ching-yi (劉靜怡), Taiwan AI Center of Excellence vice chair and distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of National Development, said that one of the summit’s central themes was how to make AI more equal, inclusive and diverse for people around the world.

Taiwan AI Center of Excellence vice chair Liu Ching-yi poses for a photo at the 4th AI Impact Summit in India on Saturday. Photo: CNA

“With government support, Indian companies are working on sovereign AI to protect cultural and linguistic diversity,” Liu said, adding that “many companies” have launched mature language models that can be compatible with 20 to 30 dialects and have developed them into products.

“Taiwan should also strive to develop in a similar direction, so that while innovating in AI development, it can also maintain linguistic and cultural diversity and ensure the basic rights of people,” Liu said.

“Taiwan should also think about how to make good use of its advantages in chips to gain more of a say in international AI cooperation and competition,” she added.

Taiwan AI Academy CEO Chen Ling-jyh (陳伶志) said that AI could be used to “develop some government services,” since Mandarin, Hakka and Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), as well as indigenous languages, are all spoken in Taiwan.

Hsia Yun (夏耘), a researcher at Taiwan’s National Institute of Cyber Security’s Center of International Collaboration and Cybersecurity Governance, said that “international cooperation is continuing” in the fields of AI safety and governance.

“Taiwan can have more influence and contribute more on AI issues, and I hope that in the future Taiwan can establish substantive cooperation with various countries and participate more deeply in discussions on AI governance,” Hsia said.

During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and other leaders in an effort to strengthen global partnerships in AI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei also attended the summit.

title: India’s AI build-out a reference for Taiwan’s approach


title: DPP ponders nominees for upcoming election cycle

people: 陳光復 賴清德 蔣萬安 何志偉 黃世杰 高虹安 鄭麗君 蘇巧慧

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By Chen Yun and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) is viewed as the “strongest contender” to run for mayor of Taipei within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), sources said, as the party’s Electoral Strategy Committee is set to convene today.

The committee is expected to discuss candidates for the mayoral and county commissioner elections this year, as the party’s Central Executive Committee reviews eligibility for city councilor nomination registrations on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter said.

The DPP has not yet nominated candidates for this year’s local elections in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Hualien County, Kinmen County and Lienchiang County (Matsu).

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun speaks at a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei on Jan. 20. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

For the Taipei mayoral race, the party has reached a consensus that Cheng would be the “strongest contender” to run, sources said.

The party is waiting for the “best timing” to make its choice, considering the uncertainty around US tariffs, they said.

The party has reached a consensus to nominate Jhubei City Mayor Cheng Chao-fang (鄭朝方) to run for Hsinchu County commissioner, they said, adding that his stance has softened after being persuaded by President William Lai (賴清德).

The DPP has not ruled out separately proceeding nominations for the mayoral and county commissioner races in Hsinchu, considering incumbent Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao’s (高虹安) return, they said.

The party is almost certain about its choice for Hualien County, they said, adding that it is likely to work with Hualien County Council Speaker Chang Chun (張峻).

For the Taoyuan mayoral race, Presidential Office Deputy

Secretary-General Mark Ho (何志偉), Deputy Minister of Justice Huang Shih-chieh (黃世杰) and DPP Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) are considered possible options, they said.

The DPP has to carefully mull its nominations to face the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) hold on northern Taiwan between Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), Taipei Deputy City Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) and Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政), they said.

DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), who has been selected as the party’s nominee to run in the New Taipei City mayoral race, is already steadily campaigning. The party believes strong candidates in Taipei and Taoyuan could significantly boost their prospects across northern Taiwan, they said.

For Kinmen and Matsu, the party does not rule out strategic cooperation, they said.

Penghu County Commissioner Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) is considered to have a strong chance of reelection, they said.

The 70-year-old member of the DPP, who is recovering from a severe injury during the Lunar New Year, performed well in the role and has strong local recognition, they added.


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ENCOURAGING SUBSIDIES:  Carbon reduction purchase price offsets for electric car replacements could hit as high as NT$16,000 and reach NT$2,000 for motorcycles

More than 120,000 fossil fuel vehicles nationwide have been replaced with electric vehicles via a system established by the Ministry of Environment in 2022, cumulatively reducing more than 520,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide last year.

The ministry yesterday urged the public to replace their old fossil fuel-powered cars or motorcycles with electric ones.

It had established a system with an online platform (https://gov.tw/cZ1) to help match owners of fossil fuel vehicles with replacement subsidy projects launched by the ministry and developers — including governmental agencies and private entities such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

An electric vehicle is parked next to a charging port in a parking lot in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

Those who replace their fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles could apply for a carbon reduction purchase price offset and an air pollution reduction subsidy.

The schemes are available to citizens aged 18 or older, expatriates with a local residential permit and private businesses.

However, applicants can only choose one scheme, as the reduction credits would be allocated to either the ministry or the respective developer.

For air pollution reduction subsidies, the new vehicle must be registered within the same air quality area as the developer that offers the project.

Carbon reduction purchase price scheme applications must be filed by the buyer of the new vehicle, while air pollution reduction subsidy applications have to be filed by the owner of the new vehicle, but received by the actual buyer.

Applications must be filed within two years after the new vehicle is bought and cannot be changed once filed.

People who replace their fossil fuel-powered motorcycle with an electric one could earn at least NT$3,300 — including NT$300 in motorcycle recycling rewards, NT$1,000 from the ministry’s air pollution reduction subsidy and up to NT$2,000 in a carbon reduction purchase price offset.

The replacement of fossil fuel-powered cars could result in about NT$1,000 in car recycling rewards and up to NT$16,000 in carbon reduction purchase price offsets.

It could also earn NT$2,000 from the ministry or up to NT$5,100 from developers that offer an air pollution reduction subsidy project, such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Science and Technology Council, the Tainan City Government or the Kaohsiung City Government.

People who replace their diesel-powered small passenger car or a light truck with an electric one could receive up to NT$16,000 in a carbon reduction purchase price offset, or up to NT$8,000 if the substitute is a hybrid vehicle, the ministry said.

Those who replace their gasoline-powered small passenger cars or light trucks could obtain a purchase price reduction of up to NT$13,000 if the substitute is an electric vehicle, or up to NT$6,500 if it is a hybrid, it said.

As of the end of last year, the ministry’s system has been used in 124,798 fossil fuel vehicles replacements, contributing a cumulative carbon dioxide reduction of 529,212 tonnes, the ministry said.

title: Public urged to switch to electric cars


content_text:
ADVICE:  People who have difficulty breathing should seek immediate medical help, while those who vomit or have diarrhea should stay home for 48 hours after symptoms subside

Emergency room visits for diarrhea and influenza-like illness (ILI) were lower on Saturday compared with Friday, and fell more than 50 percent year-on-year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.

The number of emergency room visits typically peaks during the Lunar New Year holiday, when increased travel, large family gatherings and shared meals heighten the risk of transmission, compounded by seasonal winter factors, it said.

The CDC urged the public to take preventive measures against such illnesses by getting vaccinated, wearing masks in public and maintaining good hand hygiene.

People on hospital beds at Changhua Christian Hospital’s emergency room are pictured in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of Changhua Christian Hospital

To reduce the risk of norovirus and enterovirus infections — which are also common at this time of year — people should wash their hands with soap before preparing food and eating, ensure food is thoroughly cooked, avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked items, and follow proper cleaning and disinfection practices, the CDC said.

People returning from holiday travel should monitor their health and inform doctors of their recent travel history when seeking medical care, it added.

CDC data showed that there were 2,069 emergency room visits for ILI on Saturday, a 19.5 percent drop from 2,571 visits the previous day. Comparing figures of the same holiday period over the past three years, visits were down 61 percent from last year, 38.3 percent from 2024 and 4.9 percent from 2023.

The agency advised high-risk groups — including adults aged 65 and older, infants, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses — to remain vigilant.

Anyone experiencing warning signs such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or altered consciousness should seek immediate medical attention to ensure timely treatment, the CDC said.

Emergency room visits for diarrhea totaled 2,069 on Saturday, down 11.5 percent from 2,338 the previous day. Comparing figures of the same period over the past few years, diarrhea emergency room visits declined 72.5 percent from last year, but were 48.1 percent and 45.4 percent higher than those in 2024 and 2023 respectively, it said.

Norovirus accounted for 88 percent of the diarrhea cluster cases, the CDC said, adding that the virus was highly contagious and could spread through contact with contaminated feces or vomit.

Such infections tend to be more severe in infants, older people and immunocompromised people.

Those with suspected symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, should remain at home and rest for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside to help prevent further transmission.

title: ILI and diarrhea emergency room visits fall by 50%


title: Doctors warn about earbuds use-related infections

content_text:
Prolonged use of earbuds could cause bacteria levels in the ear to surge, as heat and moisture get trapped, a doctor warned, citing a rise in people seeking treatment for persistent ear itches.

Many of those people reported blocked ears or excessive itching, and often suspected that excessive earwax was to blame, otolaryngologist Chang Chia-chun (張嘉峻) wrote on social media.

However, most clinical examinations found that the culprits were fungal infections caused by wearing earbuds for several hours, he said.

Earbuds and cases are pictured in Taipei on Nov. 3 last year. Photo: Tsai Yun-jung, Taipei Times

Many people are unaware that earbuds act like a “plug,” completely sealing the ear canal, Chang said.

Studies have shown that wearing them for an hour could significantly increase bacterial growth in the ear canal due to trapped heat and humidity, and poor ventilation, he said.

Some studies suggested that the growth rate of bacteria could increase by more than 10-fold under these conditions, creating an ideal environment for fungi to thrive, he added.

Chang urged people to be alert if they experience any of the following symptoms: intense itching deep inside the ear; foul-smelling liquid leaking from the ear canal; and muffled hearing, as if sounds are blocked by a thin membrane.

These could be symptoms of otomycosis, or fungal ear infection, he said, warning against using cotton swabs to relieve itching.

Using cotton swabs to dig into the ear could push fungal spores deeper into the canal or cause abrasions that might lead to more serious inflammation or cellulitis, he said.

Heavy earbuds users are advised to remove them every 50 minutes to allow the ear canal to ventilate; regularly use alcohol to disinfect the earbuds and keep them dry; and seek medical help if discomfort persists, he said.


title: Grand Hotel Taipei confirms breach

content_text:
The Grand Hotel Taipei on Saturday confirmed that its information system had been illegally accessed and expressed its deepest apologies for the concern it has caused its customers, adding that the issue is being investigated by the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau.

The hotel said that on Tuesday last week, it had discovered an external illegal intrusion into its information system.

An initial digital forensic investigation confirmed that parts of the system had been accessed, it said, adding that the possibility that some customer data were stolen and leaked could not be ruled out.

The Grand Hotel Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Chou Hsin-jui, Taipei Times

The actual scope and content of the affected data are still awaiting final forensic confirmation, the hotel said.

To protect customers’ rights, the hotel urged guests to remain highly vigilant and verify all information carefully if they receive suspicious e-mails, unusual payment instructions, requests for account passwords or financial information, or phone calls from unknown numbers.

Guests could also contact the hotel’s Public Relations Department at (02) 2886-1818, ext. 1515, 1022 or 1026, it said.

The hotel said it immediately activated its highest-level cybersecurity response mechanisms after the breach, including disconnecting affected systems, conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation and risk assessment, bolstering account and privilege controls, as well as enhancing monitoring and protection levels.

It added that it has also notified the authorities, in accordance with the law, and asked the Investigation Bureau to initiate an investigation.

The hotel said it is addressing the incident with the utmost seriousness and would pursue all legal liabilities to the fullest extent of the law without leniency.

The hotel’s operations remain normal, and accommodations and meal services continue to be provided, it added.


content_text:
‘Left-Handed Girl’ director shares film inspiration, journey

Superstitions passed down through generations could shape people’s lives in subtle, yet lasting ways.

Director Tsou Shih-ching (鄒時擎) in her debut solo feature film, Left-Handed Girl (左撇子女孩), uses that belief to examine gender roles and expectations imposed on women in Taiwanese society.

The movie follows Shu-fen, played by Janel Tsai (蔡淑臻), a single mother who moves with her two daughters from Taitung County to Taipei, where she tries to start over by running a noodle stall at a night market.

As Shu-fen struggles with rent, a strained relationship with her family and mounting tensions with her headstrong eldest daughter I-ann — played by Ma Shih-yuan (馬士媛) — her five-year-old younger daughter I-jing, portrayed by Nina Ye (葉子綺), begins stealing near the night market.

Shu-fen believes her left-handed daughter I-jing’s actions are driven by her “devil hand.”

The film has been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars).

“The plot idea actually came from a high-school memory, when my grandfather saw me cutting food with a kitchen knife in my left hand,” Tsou said. “He got very emotional and told me not to use my left hand, saying that ‘the left hand is the devil’s hand.’”

As the story unfolds, Tsou uses the superstition surrounding left-handedness to highlight social frameworks and conventions unfairly imposed on women — constraints she said “keep them from being themselves.”

Growing up in Taiwan, it often felt as though teachers expected girls to fade into the background and avoid “standing out” so as not to attract “too much attention,” Tsou said.

Pushing back against such restrictive conventions was a major impetus behind the script and a theme established even before she and longtime collaborator Sean Baker — director of Oscar-winning “dramedy” Anora — began writing the film together, Tsou said.

“I said to Sean: ‘If we’re writing this movie, I want to tell my experience as a woman who grew up in Taiwan and all the stories I’ve heard,’” she said.

Tsou said she met Baker at The New School while studying for her master’s degree and he was drawn to her “devil’s hand” anecdote.

The two wanted to make a film in the style of Dogme 95, a Danish movement rooted in a purist approach to filmmaking that they share a passion for.

The idea brought them to Taiwan in 2001 in search of story material, during which Baker encountered staples of Taiwanese life such as betel nut stands and night markets, which feature prominently in the film.

However, with neither filmmaker having directed a feature at the time, securing funding proved impossible and the project was shelved.

Tsou said they continued refining the script and completed it in 2010, but it was not until 2021, when they attended the Cannes Film Festival for Baker’s Red Rocket and spoke with the owner of a French distribution company, that Left-Handed Girl finally secured financing.

“Parasite had won the Oscars in 2020. That kicked down the doors for Asian stories, which were quickly gaining traction,” she said.

Asked what motivated her to hold on to the project for so long, Tsou said the film held deep significance for her and Baker.

“It could have been our first movie if we hadn’t made Take Out,” she said, referring to the 2004 drama she codirected with Baker.

During her search for a distributor, Tsou said it was suggested she shoot the film in New York instead, an idea she rejected outright.

“I was adamant, because the night market is central to the plot. If I don’t film it in Taiwan, the story won’t work,” she said.

The film has screened in theaters worldwide and is available on Netflix.

Tsou said she is glad she was able to show Taiwan to a global audience.

“Making this movie made me rediscover Taiwan’s beauty,” said Tsou, who has lived in the US since graduating from college.

People often grow indifferent to their surroundings after living in the same place for many years, but returning with fresh eyes could make familiar sights and sounds feel new, she said.

“I’d be like, ‘This is so Taiwanese. I’ve got to document this,’” she added.

While the film unmistakably centers on female characters and women’s experiences, Tsou said she hoped it would prompt broader reflection.

“Oddly enough, many conventions have been passed down even though they are completely meaningless,” she said. “I hope the film encourages people to look at their own lives and ask what beliefs they’ve inherited and whether it’s time to let them go.”


title: Pocket monsters

content_text: People play “Pokemon Go” on their smartphones at Tainan Metropolitan Park yesterday. The Pokemon GO Tour: Kalos-Tainan event took place from Friday to yesterday at the park and attracted more than 120,000 people.


title: Good vibes veggie

content_text: Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang, center left, and Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan, center right, hold white radishes, which symbolize “good luck” based its pronounciation in Hoklo, commonly known as Taiwanese, at a temple in New Taipei City yesterday.


title: Returning home

content_text: People wait in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s arrival hall yesterday, the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday. The airport said 80,527 people arrived in the airport yesterday, the highest daily number since the COVID-19 pandemic.


title: OpenAI expects revenue to soar by 2030

content_text:
OVERSIGHT:  Democracies need to start developing shared AI safety standards, an OpenAI executive said, drawing parallels to the International Atomic Energy Agency

OpenAI is projecting that its revenue would grow at a fast clip in the next few years and exceed US$280 billion in 2030, a person familiar with the matter said.

The revenue forecast reflects OpenAI’s strong momentum in subscription sales for its artificial intelligence (AI) software to consumers and businesses. OpenAI has also began testing advertising for certain users, creating a new potential moneymaker for the company.

OpenAI chief financial officer Sarah Friar said the company’s annualized revenue topped US$20 billion last year, up from about US$6 billion the previous year.

The logo for OpenAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT is pictured in an illustration photograph taken in Mullhouse, France, on Feb. 11 last year. Photo: AFP

CNBC was first to report the new revenue estimate.

Like its peers, OpenAI is racing to convince more companies and users to pay up for its AI services to help offset the immense cost of chips, data centers and talent needed to build its technology.

OpenAI previously said it had committed to spend more than US$1.4 trillion on infrastructure for AI in the coming years.

The company is now telling investors it is planning to spend about US$600 billion by 2030, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.

OpenAI chief executive officer Sam Altman is engaged in a massive construction spree to build data centers in the US and beyond, as he seeks a leading position in AI against rivals such as Alphabet Inc and Anthropic PBC.

The company is close to finalizing the first phase of a new funding round that is likely to bring in more than US$100 billion, Bloomberg News has reported.

The overall valuation of the company, including the eventual funding, could exceed US$850 billion.

Meanwhile, OpenAI said it has “visibility into what we are going to need” regarding chip supply, while emphasizing the need for democratic nations to develop shared safety standards for AI.

The start-up is working with strategic partners who are “supportive” in terms of providing access to chips, OpenAI chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane told Bloomberg Television.

OpenAI executives remain vigilant about supply chain issues, ensuring they “sleep with one eye open” to verify availability, he added.

Lehane, who attended an AI summit in India with Altman last week, also emphasized the importance of international cooperation on governance, pointing to AI safety institutes emerging in the US, the UK and Japan, and drawing parallels to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Democratic societies do need to start to develop shared safety standards on this technology,” Lehane said in the interview.


title: Microsoft names AI executive Sharma to lead Xbox

content_text:
Microsoft Corp named artificial intelligence (AI) executive Asha Sharma to lead its Xbox and gaming business, replacing Phil Spencer, as the company vowed to recommit to console users after years of developing products for mobile and PC players.

Spencer, who has run the Xbox business since 2014 and was named gaming CEO in 2022 is retiring, the company said.

Xbox president Sarah Bond would also leave, while Xbox Games Studios head Matt Booty would become chief content officer, reporting to Sharma.

People play Dragon Age: The Veilguard by US video game company Electronic Arts Inc on Microsoft Corp’s Xbox game consoles during a press preview of the Paris Games Week on Oct. 22, 2024. Photo: AFP

Sharma, who previously held roles at Instacart and Meta Platforms Inc, was chosen for her consumer expertise and would serve as the chief executive officer of gaming, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote in a blog post on Friday.

The company over the past few years has focused significant effort on broadening beyond its core console audience, aiming at PC and mobile gamers with a spree of acquisitions, including the US$69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard Inc.

Those moves and others alienated long-time Xbox devotees. Meanwhile, the mobile gaming market slowed and Microsoft’s plans there have lagged.

Microsoft has laid off more than 2,500 gaming employees since 2024, industry tracker Obsidian said.

The company has shuttered studios including Arkane Austin, the Initiative and Tango Gameworks, and canceled games that were in the works for years. The company also angered fans with deals to bring its most significant console games to rival devices from Sony Group Corp and Nintendo Co.

Sharma wants to reverse some of the slide.

“We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world,” Sharma said in an e-mail to staff. “We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console, which has shaped who we are.”

Sharma has been overseeing Microsoft’s efforts at working with a wide array of AI models, as well as focusing on AI agents, applications and developer tools.

Early last year, when the industry was rocked by the rapid interest in China’s DeepSeek (深度求索) model, Sharma led about 100 engineers working around the clock to respond to Nadella’s demand for a quick response, testing the software and releasing a version for Microsoft’s Azure cloud customers within days.


content_text:
CPC to maintain prices at pumps, despite rising costs

State-run oil refiner CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) yesterday said it would not change gasoline and diesel prices at its stations this week, despite rising crude oil import costs.

Effective today, gasoline prices at CPC stations are to stay at NT$27.2, NT$28.7 and NT$30.7 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, while the price of premium diesel is to remain at NT$26.6 per liter, the company said in a statement.

The company’s announcement came after international crude oil prices rose more than 5 percent last week, as tensions between the US and Iran remained high, while the latest data from the Energy Information Administration showed that US crude oil inventories were down sharply last week.

People walk past a CPC Corp, Taiwan fuel station in Kaohsiung’s Sanmin District in an undated photograph. Photo: Lin Jin-hua, Taipei Times

Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — last week increased 5.92 percent to settle at US$71.76 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures — the US oil gauge — gained 5.57 percent to US$66.39 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Based on CPC’s weekly fuel price adjustment formula, gasoline and diesel prices would normally increase by NT$1.4 and NT$0.6 per liter respectively.

However, the company said it would absorb the increases to keep its fuel prices below those of neighboring Asian countries to comply with a government policy and to help stabilize domestic consumer prices.


title: Looking for a deal

content_text: People crowd the famed Shenkeng Old Street in New Taipei City’s Shenkeng District yesterday on the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday.


people: 韓國瑜 柯建銘 柯文哲 黃國昌 習近平 賴清德 卓榮泰 江啟臣

title: EDITORIAL: Promise in the New Year

content_text:
During the long Lunar New Year’s holiday, Taiwan has shown several positive developments in different aspects of society, hinting at a hopeful outlook for the Year of the Horse, but there are also significant challenges that the country must cautiously navigate with strength, wisdom and resilience.

Before the holiday break, Taiwan’s stock market closed at a record 10,080.3 points and the TAIEX wrapped up at a record-high 33,605.71 points, while Taipei and Washington formally signed the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that caps US tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and secures Taiwan preferential tariff treatment.

President William Lai (賴清德) in his Lunar New Year address pledged to continue strengthening national defense and steadily advance economic development. He also outlined several welfare programs that have taken effect this year, including increased childbirth benefits and maternity subsidies, and approved raises in monthly allowance for senior farmers and monthly national pension benefits.

The Taiwan Space Agency announced that the Formosat-8A “Chi Po-lin Satellite,” Taiwan’s first domestically produced optical remote sensing satellite constellation, launched on Nov. 29 last year, has delivered results beyond expectations.

Emergency room overcrowding seen last Lunar New Year was avoided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s preparedness planning and incentive policies, while hospital visits for flu-like illness were relatively low, likely due to the record-high flu vaccine coverage at the start of the flu season.

Taiwan has also been free of African swine fever (ASF) cases since an outbreak in Taichung in October last year, and after a series of inspections, disinfection and policy changes, the agricultural ministry re-applied on Saturday to the World Organization for Animal Health for ASF-free status.

However, the government’s signed agreements, development policies and social welfare programs still require the backing of the opposition-led Legislative Yuan, where partisan polarization and legislative gridlock have intensified in the past year, creating uncertainties and stalling reforms. As the new legislative session opens tomorrow, effective solutions to break the stalemate are urgently needed.

The optimistic news is that after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) jointly blocked a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.66 billion) special defense budget bill 10 times from review since November last year, drawing international attention and concerns from US lawmakers, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) finally said it would be a top priority when the legislature reconvenes. TPP founding chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) also called for the government’s and the opposition’s bills to be deliberated and reviewed together.

Although the Legislative Yuan unprecedentedly refused to review the annual government budget for this year, it has invited Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and Cabinet members to report on the US trade agreement and its impact, and answer questions by lawmakers on Tuesday next week. The president has also invited the heads of the five branches of government to the Presidential Office.

Meanwhile, some power dynamics shifts in the Legislative Yuan might unfold in the upcoming days. Six of the TPP’s eight legislators-at-large, including its chairman caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who has worked intensively close with the KMT caucus, stepped down last month, and the TPP’s push for absentee voting and legalizing surrogacy have not gained full support from the KMT.

There is speculation that Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) could step down if he secures the Taichung mayoral candidate nomination.

There have been calls for the Democratic Progressive Party’s 25-year long-standing caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) to step down, after an unsuccessful mass recall movement to remove KMT legislators last year.

As the local elections would be held on Nov. 28, uncertainties linger over the cooperative dynamic between the KMT and TPP in the elections, while the government and voters should be aware of likely disinformation campaigns and infiltration from China.

On top of the legislative and election uncertainties, Taiwan also faces looming global challenges, including US President Donald Trump’s new 15 percent global tariff after the US Supreme Court on Friday struck down the sweeping tariffs imposed last year, which might foster more doubt and hesitation from opposition parties to pass the trade deal or the special defense bill.

Concerns have arisen after the White House on Friday confirmed that Trump would be meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) during an official visit to Beijing between March 31 to April 2, with some people worried that their talks could have a significant impact on Taiwan; the government must keep close contact with Washington and put more effort into strengthening public trust.


title: China must not influence legislature

content_text:
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) earlier this month led a delegation to Beijing to attend a think tank forum between the KMT and Chinese Communist Party (CCP). After returning to Taiwan, Hsiao spoke at length about “accumulating mutual trust” and letting matters “fall into place,” portraying the forum as a series of discussions focused on cooperation in tourism, renewable energy, disaster prevention, emerging industries, health and medicine, and artificial intelligence (AI).

However, when the entire dialogue presupposes the so-called “1992 consensus — the idea that there is only “one China,” with each side of the Taiwan Strait having its own interpretation of what that means — and opposition to Taiwanese independence as its political premise, such exchanges lose any space for neutrality, instead becoming highly politicized institutional operations. Given that CCP authorities have publicly denied the existence of the Republic of China and have even threatened to “punish independence,” the KMT-CCP forum far exceeded the bounds of academic exchange, instead becoming part of a specific political agenda.

The issue is not in the cross-strait exchanges themselves, but whether such exchanges form a predictable political link with legislative behavior. Past experience has repeatedly caused alarm — after a delegation of KMT officials led by party caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) returned from their visit to China in April 2024, the Legislative Yuan promptly advanced a series of highly controversial amendments, most notably measures aimed at expanding legislative oversight, some of which were later declared unconstitutional.

Now, the opposition is, on one hand, cutting key items from the special defense budget, blocking policies aimed at building “non-red” supply chains and weakening Taiwan-US cooperation. On the other hand, it has put forward 15 “joint proposals” with Beijing following the KMT-CCP forum. Society is well within its rights to reasonably question whether this is merely a prelude to a broader policy shift.

From a legal and institutional perspective, the true risk lies not in the rhetoric of the forum, but in how its outcomes are subsequently institutionalized and translated into actual policy.

Whether it involves relaxing restrictions on cross-strait personnel exchanges, promoting industrial and AI cooperation, or establishing mechanisms for collaboration in healthcare and disaster prevention, once such measures are implemented through legislative amendments, budget allocations or administrative deregulation, unavoidable questions arise — do such measures conflict with the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法), national security review mechanisms or the regulatory framework?

Yet these issues — central to the bottom line of the rule of law — were deliberately sidestepped at the KMT-CCP forum, only to potentially resurface in the Legislative Yuan as operational institutional realities.

What is worth even greater attention is that Beijing never makes unconditional investments.

Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Wang Huning’s (王滬寧) reception was not a matter of diplomatic courtesy, but an evaluation of political performance. When the CCP publicly praises the opposition’s obstruction of the special defense budget, Taiwanese cannot focus solely on gestures framed as “goodwill toward people’s livelihoods” while overlooking the potential institutional impact.

Exchange should be allowed, but only if clear boundaries are in place. Dialogue can take place, but the rule of law and national security cannot be treated as bargaining chips.

In the face of carefully crafted “joint proposals,” what is most needed at this moment is an institutional inquiry: Would these commitments ultimately be translated into workable policies in the Legislative Yuan?

Yeh Yu-cheng is a secretary at the Pingtung County Public Health Bureau.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


content_text:
As red lanterns adorn street corners and social media feeds teem with zodiac divinations, the Year of the Horse has arrived. In our hyper-accelerated age, the horse is almost exclusively synonymous with the idiom ma dao cheng gong (馬到成功) — “instant success upon arrival.” It is a linguistic shot of adrenaline, fueling the thrilling illusion that once the bell tolls, our lives would screech off into a cloud of dust, leaving all troubles behind.

Yet, when examining the

millennia-long partnership between humans and this magnificent “biological machine,” a different truth emerges. The true essence of the horse is not merely speed; it is rhythm. As we enter this new lunar cycle, it is time to loosen the tension of KPIs and mortgages. Beyond the feng shui (風水) and lucky charms, the horse offers a deeper wisdom for our survival in an uncertain future.

In the past, the horse was a symbol of immense prestige. From the thundering chariots of the First Emperor of China Qin Shihuangdi (秦始皇帝) to the “fine steeds and furs worth a fortune” celebrated by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (李白), the horse represented the explosive power to conquer.

Today, the cultural lexicon has shifted. A popular term among today’s youth is niu ma (牛馬) literally meaning “oxen and horses” — a self-deprecating label for those who feel like mere “beasts of burden.” It captures a modern dilemma with painful accuracy: running at breakneck speed without knowing the destination; carrying heavy loads without ever pausing to graze.

Whether coding in a skyscraper or delivering meals through a storm, many have felt the sting of an invisible rider shouting “Faster! Harder!” This “run first, ask directions later” radicalism might have once yielded survival dividends, but in an era of burnout, it is a recipe for collapse.

The first wisdom of the Year of the Horse is to refuse the blind gallop. Like the White Dragon Horse from the Ming Dynasty Chinese classic Journey to the West (西遊記), we must maintain an inner compass. He finished the long haul to Buddhahood because he knew his purpose, refusing to be led astray by faulty navigation or distractions.

In our current tech-driven landscape, the horse might seem awkwardly obsolete. When ChatGPT can draft proposals in seconds and drones can outmaneuver any animal, what use do we have for a horse?

This is where the ancient idiom lao ma shi tu (老馬識途) becomes critical: “The old horse knows the way.”

The classic of ancient Chinese philosophy the Han Feizi (韓非子) tells of the statesman Guan Zhong (管仲), whose army was lost in a foggy winter maze. While panic set in, Guan Zhong simply let the old horses lead. Relying on deep-seated instinct, they guided the troops to safety. Today, we are lost in a different kind of fog — big data and algorithms. An algorithm can dictate the fastest route, but it cannot say which path has the most beautiful scenery, nor can it point towards one’s true desire.

As everyone chases the latest artificial intelligence model, the Year of the Horse reminds us: Do not undervalue past experience. The hard-won lessons, the stumbles and earned judgment are beyond any machine. You do not need to be the fastest; you need to know the path the best.

There is a traditional phrase praising diligence: ma bu jie an (馬不解鞍) which translates to “the horse never unsaddles.” While relentless effort is respectable, if a horse never sheds its saddle, its back would eventually fester. The first step in caring for the human condition is allowing people to rest.

Modern workplace culture suffers from a “saddle compulsion,” where pausing is equated with failing. We must champion a new equine philosophy: Run with joyful abandon when it is time to run, but rest with unapologetic boldness when it is time to graze. Consider the horses in the

masterpieces of the 20th Century Chinese painter Xu Beihong (徐悲鴻) — they are icons of indomitable spirit, yet their power is balanced by quiet stillness.

Acknowledging your limits is not shameful; it is advanced wisdom. Just as land needs fallow periods to remain fertile, our minds need space to stay inspired.

Perhaps the most poignant horse parable is Qianlima changyou, er Bo le bu changyou (千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有) the lament that “swift steeds are common, but a Bo Le (伯樂) — a master judge of talent — is rare.” Many spend their lives waiting for that “rider” to discover them. This year, I suggest something more untamed: Stop waiting for a Bo Le. Learn to be your own rider.

For too long, we have handed the reins of our lives to external forces — parents, bosses or societal expectations, living like blinkered horses, plodding in circles around a millstone. This year, remove the blinders. Your value does not require external validation to be real; your joy does not require permission to be felt.

This is the true “freedom in the saddle” — the confidence to refuse what you do not want to do, and the magnanimity to slog through life with your spirit intact.

May you, in this Year of the Horse, possess the speed of a swift steed to chase your dreams and the wisdom of an old horse to navigate life’s pitfalls. Above all, may you have the soul of a wild horse — to let out your own whinny on the vast plains and run with exhilarating joy, entirely in your own rhythm.

Hugo Tseng holds a doctorate in linguistics, and is a lexicographer and former chair of the Soochow University Department of English.

title: Beyond the gallop, learn to graze


content_text:
In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes strength, freedom and nobility. During the Year of the Horse, images of galloping figures fill Lunar New Year decorations and social feeds, celebrating power and grace. While horses receive paper honors and symbolic praise, real horses are paying the price with their bodies.

Across the world, horses are exploited in industries that treat them as disposable tools rather than living individuals who feel fear, pain and exhaustion. Nowhere is this contrast more jarring than in tourism and sport — industries that insist cruelty is “tradition” even as humane options are readily available.

Near Egypt’s Great Pyramids, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) investigators documented a hidden graveyard where horses used for tourist rides were dumped after collapsing from neglect. The animals were forced to haul people in blistering heat without adequate water or veterinary care, beaten when they slowed and discarded when their bodies gave out. Their suffering stood in the shadow of one of early humanity’s notable architectural achievements, a reminder that progress loses its meaning when it leaves compassion behind.

Horse racing presents a similar conflict. In countries across Asia and beyond, it is promoted as sport and prestige, yet it leaves a trail of broken legs, stress fractures and premature deaths. Horses are whipped, pushed beyond their limits and often euthanized when injuries make them unprofitable. Those who survive racing frequently face uncertain futures that can include slaughter.

This is not sport. It is bloodsport.

PETA has called on the International Olympic Committee to remove equestrian events from the Games for the same reason: There is no way to force animals to perform dangerous acts for human entertainment without coercion and violence. Horses do not choose to race, jump or endure training methods that cause bleeding mouths, shattered bones and chronic stress. The modern pentathlon recognized this truth and removed horses from its events. The Olympics should follow.

Honoring the Year of the Horse should mean more than celebrating an image while excusing suffering. It should mean asking about what respect looks like in a modern society.

The good news is that compassion and progress are no longer at odds. Innovation has made cruelty unnecessary. Cities around the world are replacing horse-drawn carriages with sleek, electric alternatives that offer the same charm without forcing animals to pound hot pavement, inhale exhaust or panic in traffic. These solutions are safer, cleaner and better aligned with the future that modern cities claim to represent.

When cities choose animal-free attractions and ethical tourism, they send a signal that progress does not require victims. Ending the use of horses for entertainment affirms values of empathy, responsibility and leadership that transcend borders.

Respecting horses also means rethinking how we view animals altogether. They are not props, traditions or economic units. They are individuals who value their lives and seek comfort, companionship and freedom from pain. Recognizing this does not diminish culture — it strengthens it.

As the Year of the Horse unfolds, societies have an opportunity to align symbolism with action. Retire horses from racing. Reject animal-based entertainment. Support innovation that reflects our highest values rather than outdated habits.

A year meant to honor horses should not be built on their suffering. True respect means liberation, not exploitation.

Adam Chen is the Taiwan campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia (PETA Asia).

title: Year of the Horse: Align symbolism with action


title: EDITORIAL CARTOON

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Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) earlier this month led a delegation to Beijing to attend a think tank forum between the KMT and Chinese Communist Party (CCP). After returning to Taiwan, Hsiao spoke at length about “accumulating mutual trust” and letting matters “fall into place,” portraying the forum as a series of discussions focused on cooperation in tourism, renewable energy, disaster prevention, emerging industries, health and medicine, and artificial intelligence (AI). However, when the entire dialogue presupposes the so-called “1992 consensus — the idea that there is only “one China,” with each side of the Taiwan

By Yeh Yu-cheng 葉昱呈


title: Trump the top rebel and ‘king’

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In the summer of 1989, political scientist Francis Fukuyama presented his vision of the end of history.

Since liberal-democratic capitalism is the best possible social order, no further progress was possible, other than through the preferred order’s gradual realization around the world, he said.

However, the “end” lasted just three decades at most, and we find ourselves at the opposite extreme: The predominant idea today is that the liberal-democratic capitalist world order, with its complex rules guaranteeing basic human rights (freedom of speech, universal healthcare, public education and so forth), has disintegrated. It is being replaced by a brutal new world in which big fish eat small ones, and ideologies are no longer taken seriously, because what matters is raw economic, military or political power.

Hence, US President Donald Trump did not intervene in Venezuela to restore democracy there; he did it, apparently, to get free access to the country’s immense oil and mineral reserves. Likewise, Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine to seize territory and restore the “Greater Russia” that existed before the Bolshevik Revolution and, in a different form, after it.

The predominant worldview is a realism shed of all illusions and ideals. If you are a small country, accept that you must live in fear. If you can enjoy obscene power, you should do so — just beware that principles do not matter. In this new post-ideological world, it is often said that the mask of human rights, and respect for other states’ sovereignty and the rest have fallen away.

However, nothing about this is true. Our post-liberal world is penetrated by ideology even more than the liberal-democratic order was. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) vision is pure ideology, even if it is contradicted daily by its own acts.

Steve Bannon, a key ideologist of Trumpian populism, describes himself as a Leninist working to destroy the state. However, under Trump, the US state machinery has grown stronger and more overbearing than ever, regularly contravening laws, and intervening in democratic processes and markets. For MAGA, “freedom of speech” is the prerogative of the powerful to offend and humiliate the weak (immigrants, non-whites and sexual minorities), not the power of the oppressed and exploited to have their voices heard.

The same holds for Israel and Russia, to mention just two examples. Israel is now beset by Zionist fundamentalism, which invokes the Old Testament to legitimize the brutal colonization of Gaza and the West Bank. Equally, Putin legitimizes his power with a Eurasian ideology that opposes Western individualist liberalism and supposedly prizes traditional Christian values. Giving priority to the community, people should be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the state.

Along these lines, Alexander Kharichev, a top Putin ideologist, has formulated the basic features of “Homo putinus,” with its supposedly “self-sacrificing nature”: “For us, life itself seems to mean much less than it does for a Westerner. We believe there are things more important than mere existence. That, in essence, is the foundation of any faith.”

In all these cases, we are as far as possible from seeing the world as it is: What the predominant “realism” ignores is the extreme ideology that the “status quo” needs to reproduce itself.

This tension underlies one of the key features of today’s world: More and more states rely on criminal armed gangs to sustain their power. Haiti, punished for more than 200 years for its successful slave-led revolution, is merely the most extreme case of a so-called failed state, with gangs controlling 80 percent of the territory. Now, similar things are happening in Ecuador (where gangs openly occupy parts of cities) and in those parts of Mexico that are totally controlled by drug cartels.

In this context, we should also mention the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s morality policy. They function as an ideological police force, and often go to extremes that appear to embarrass the government. Recall the murder of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. Then there was the Wagner Group, which the Russian government used as a proxy to retain plausible deniability for military operations abroad. It ultimately turned against Putin’s regime.

The most obvious case is the Israeli settlers who are openly terrorizing Palestinians living in the West Bank. They act as an independent movement, committing crimes that range from burning Palestinians’ houses and olive trees to beating and killing Palestinians themselves. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces just watch, intervening only if Palestinians actively resist the settlers. Again, a criminal gang is tolerated and even solicited by a state that wants to maintain plausible deniability.

Then there is Trump. Previously the instigator of an insurrection against the constitutional seat of power in the US, he is now enacting his own inner colonization by deploying militarized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents (and no longer the US National Guard) to Democratic-run cities to terrorize their inhabitants. ICE has increased its headcount by 120 percent since Trump returned to the White House, recruiting 12,000 new agents and officers through a campaign targeting white nationalists, and handing them guns after just 47 days of training. With their faces masked, they function like Trump’s own West Bank settlers, forcibly entering people’s homes without judicial warrants. A Mexican priest who works in Minneapolis described ICE as worse than his country’s drug cartels.

Still, there is a key difference: Unlike Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Putin, Trump is not maintaining any distance from his criminal gang. He is their direct commander, and he is ordering them to ignore democratic institutions and the wishes of local authorities.

Thus, as the chief executive, Trump is the top enforcer of US law and the top gang leader all in one.

Journalist G. K. Chesterton once said: “Christianity is the only religion on earth that has felt that omnipotence made God incomplete. Christianity alone has felt that God, to be wholly God, must have been a rebel as well as a king.” With some irony, we could say that Trump effectively tries to function like the Christian God: the de facto king of the US, running his country mostly by decree, and simultaneously the top rebel against the state.

Trump’s recent behavior renders this paradox even more visible. He filed a lawsuit against the US Internal Revenue Service, demanding US$10 billion in damages from a federal government agency that he oversees. Alleging that he had been wronged in his personal capacity, it appears that he would have the final say on whether he walks away with a settlement, and of what size.

Even some Republican lawmakers have voiced misgivings about a lawsuit that makes Trump a plaintiff and a defendant, and he has acknowledged his “strange position,” where he has to “make a deal — negotiate with myself.”

As Democratic US Senator Adam Schiff said: “You have to give him a perverse kind of credit for the sheer audacity of the scam. It’s just in-your-face.”

We have seen something similar before, not in reality, but in a movie — filmmaker Woody Allen’s early masterpiece, Bananas. In a courtroom scene, the hero and defendant, Fielding Mellish, acts as his own attorney and interrogates himself, shouting aggressive questions at the empty witness stand, then scrambling to the seat and giving rambling, confused answers. A half-century later, reality has caught up with the joke.

Slavoj Zizek, professor of philosophy at the European Graduate School, is the author of Christian Atheism: How to Be a Real Materialist.

Copyright: Project Syndicate


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HOT ON ICE: Canada’s Jacobs said that he hoped their gold win was burned into the brains of anyone who had called them cheaters or said anything negative about Canada

Canada, who were mired in a cheating controversy earlier in the tournament, on Saturday beat the UK 9-6 in a tense final to win Olympic men’s curling gold for the fourth time.

Brad Jacobs’ team secured their country’s first title in the event since defeating Britain in the 2014 gold-medal match in Sochi.

The UK had to settle for a third silver medal in the past four Olympic men’s curling competitions after slipping up in the last two ends in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Taiwan’s Lin Sin-rong and Lin Song-en compete in heat three of the two-woman bobsled competition at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Saturday. Photo: Reuter

They are still waiting for a first men’s title since 1924, after which curling was absent from the Olympic program for 74 years.

The tournament was marred by controversy at the Milan-Cortina Games after Canadian Marc Kennedy insulted a Swedish opponent who had accused him of cheating.

The spat led to fears that curling was losing its once genteel image, while the Canadians faced criticism in their own national media.

“For anyone who called us cheaters, for anyone who said negative things about Marc Kennedy, about us, about Canada, about our families, I hope that the image of us standing on top of the podium, embracing one another, smiling ear to ear with our gold medals is burned into your brain forever,” Jacobs said.

With its women’s team having won bronze earlier, it was Canada’s seventh gold and 14th medal overall in Olympic curling — tops in both categories.

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Klaebo won a groundbreaking sixth gold at the Games, while heavy snow forced China’s freestyle skiing superstar Eileen Gu to wait for her elusive first title in Italy.

Klaebo’s victory in the men’s 50km mass start event saw him clinch his 11th Winter Olympics gold medal, extending the record he set earlier in these Games.

The 29-year-old also became the first athlete to win all six cross-country skiing races in one Olympics.

The only athlete in Winter or Summer Games history with more Olympic golds is American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 23.

Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet combined to win gold for France in the mixed relay event of ski mountaineering in Bormio.

Ski mountaineering made its Olympic debut at this year’s Games, and while the “skimo” sprints offered a condensed version of the sport, the mixed relay proved to be a true lung-busting race.

Harrop and Anselmet clocked a winning time of 26 minutes, 57.44 seconds in the relay, consisting of ascents on skis and sections on foot with skis attached to the backpack.

An hour later, France won their sixth gold medal in biathlon of this Games when Oceane Michelon took the glory in the women’s mass start event.

Biathlon accounts for six of France’s eight gold medals overall so far.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Laura Nolte was faultless in two women bobsled, taking gold with Deborah Levi for the second successive Olympics a week after losing out on the monobob title by four hundredths of a second with a final-run stumble.

Compatriot Lisa Buckwitz, a former champion as a brakewoman, took silver, ahead of Kaillie Humphries, who won the 2010 and 2014 golds for Canada, but now represents the US.

Nolte started the day 0.18 seconds ahead and virtually doubled that gap with a 57.26 opening run.

Taiwan’s Lin Sin-rong and Lin Song-en failed to qualify for the final heat after finishing 25th in the third heat, 5.58 seconds behind the leaders, Germany.

In a blockbuster end to the Olympics, tournament favorites Canada and the US were to face off for ice hockey gold last night after press time.

The US were targeting their first Olympic title since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

Finland, the champions from Beijing in 2022, on Saturday thrashed Slovakia 6-1 to take the bronze medal.

Norway lead the medals table with 18 golds, while the US are second with 11.

Additional reporting by staff writer, with AP and Reuters

title: Canada beat UK for men’s curling gold