■Justice
Sex book leads to indictment
A prosecutor has indicted a Japanese man for importing a controversial guidebook for sex-tourists in Taiwan's two biggest cities, officials said yesterday. Prosecutor Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達) from the Taipei District Court told reporters the guidebook was imported by Daisuke Sekine, the former chief of Japan's Kinokuniya bookstore in Taipei. Graphic photos in the book contravened Taiwanese obscenity laws, Chen told reporters. He said Sekine had defended himself by claiming the book simply depicted Taiwan nightlife and was not aware it was illegal. Sekine is since believed to have been transferred by his employers to Sydney and any punishment will be handed out in absentia. Under Taiwanese law, Sekine could be sentenced to up to three years in jail but legal experts said he is likely to be fined or given a probation. The book, which was published by a Japanese publishing house, sparked an outcry here last year. Since then the Japanese publisher has recalled the books after a protest from the Taiwanese government.
■ Globalization
Taiwan slips in ranking
A study by A.T. Kearney and Foreign Policy magazine published yesterday ranks Taiwan as the world's 34th most globalized nation, two positions behind its ranking last year. The study said that the 10 top countries meeting its annual globalization index are, in order: Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Austria, the UK and Finland. The US ranked 11th, followed by France, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Germany, Malaysia, Israel and Spain. China ranked 51st. Ireland is the "most global nation" for the second year in a row, thanks to its ability to socially integrate and maintain robust trade and investment with the rest of the world. According to A.T. Kearney, a global management firm, and Foreign Policy magazine, the globalization index measures economic, social, political and technological integration in 62 countries that represent 85 percent of the world's population and are responsible for 95 percent of the world's economic output.
■ Justice
Lo allowed to leave country
The Taipei District Court granted former legislator Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) permission to leave the country conditionally two days ago, despite the fact that the court is still preparing cases accusing him of fraud, breach of trust and other charges. According to a CNA report, Lo's lawyer, Chung Yung-sheng (鐘永盛) was reported as saying yesterday that Lo is traveling to Hong Kong to handle matters related to the extension of a bank loan.
■ Weather
Cold front expected
While rainy weather let up yesterday and temperatures rose, forecasters from the Central Weather Bureau said another cold front is expected to reach Taiwan tomorrow. According to the bureau, Tamsui was the coldest place in Taiwan early yesterday morning at 11.1°C, followed by Chiayi at 12.1°C, Taichung at 12.3°C and Taipei at 13.1°C. In the day-time, temperatures rose to 19°C in northern Taiwan, 23°C in Central Taiwan and 24°C in the southern areas. The bureau forecasts improved conditions for today, but it is expected the cold front will move south tomorrow. The front will not bring as cold weather as the previous front, and the lowest temperatures will probably hover around 12°C. The front, which will bring dry weather, will remain for approximately two days. Another cold front is forecast to arrive on Jan. 15.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost