■ Society
Family found dead in NYC
A family of four was found dead in a Harlem apartment in New York City in an apparent suicide by the father, who had sent a letter to relatives in Taiwan saying he was depressed over a financial setback. Fred Wang, 42, his wife, Christine, his 8-year-old son Dennis and his 6-year-old daughter Serena were discovered dead on Thursday night of apparent carbon-monoxide poisoning. They were found by a relative who went to their housing complex after Wang sent his family a letter by express mail saying he was upset by a failed business venture. Coals were burning in silver-colored bowls in the room and a blanket was draped over the door, said Sergeant Mike Wysokowski, a police spokesman. The drapes had been pulled closed. A grandmother who lived with the family was unharmed.
■ Media
TVBS slapped with fine
The Government Information Office (GIO) yesterday issued a NT$200,000 (US$6,000) fine to television station TVBS for "not honestly reporting the transfer and background of its shareholders." The fine came as one of the station's talk shows publicized evidence related to government scandals for the second straight day, but GIO minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智) denied to reporters that there was any connection. "We decided to fine them [TVBS] because we discovered that the station did not honestly provide necessary information as required when they were renewing their license for the channel earlier this year," Yao said. He warned that such dishonest behavior could result in suspension of the station's license. The GIO is investigating whether TVBS Chairman Norman Leung (梁乃鵬), who is also the former chairman of the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority, is eligible to hold such a high-ranking position in Taiwan's media industry.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
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