■ Politics
PFP legislator passes away
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Nelson Ku (顧崇廉) died of lymphatic cancer at Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei yesterday. Ku, born in Shanghai in 1931, began his career as a naval officer in 1954, attaining the rank of admiral. He served as vice minister of national defense, navy commander-in-chief and the country's representative to the Netherlands. Ku entered the legislature as a legislator-at-large in 2001, and again in 2004. PFP Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) said that the party will spare no effort to help Ku's family with his funeral arrangements. Lee Fu-tien (李復甸), a professor of law at Chinese Culture University, will fill Ku's legislative vacancy.
■ Society
Booze-up teacher suspended
A Kaohsiung middle school teacher surnamed Chen was suspended after one of his students was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning on Friday. According to local media, the teacher-in-training brought two bottles of wine and one bottle of Kaoliang liquor to a weekend party with his students at the basketball court of Rueifeng Junior High School in Kaoshiung City. Chen reportedly encouraged his students to drink, resulting in one student downing half a bottle of white wine, chased by copious amounts of red wine and Kaoliang, a 40 to 50 percent proof distilled liquor. The student later collapsed in the hallway of his apartment after vomiting and frothing at the mouth, prompting his parents to rush him to the emergency room on Friday night. He was released the next day, according to local media. Chen reportedly became intoxicated with a number of students at the party.
■ Trade
China to buy oranges
Two organizations in China are planning to purchase a total of 12,000 tonnes of oranges for NT$180 million (US$5.49 million), the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative caucus said yesterday. The deal to sell the oranges for NT$15 per kilogram was reached after KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) visited Yunlin County on Thursday and met local fruit growers, who complained that an orange glut had driven prices down to an average of below NT$10 per kg. Ma instructed two KMT members to depart for China on Thursday to meet with Chinese authorities and discuss a deal. China's Taiwan Affairs Office then arranged a meeting between the two delegates and executives from two Chinese marketing organizations. Both sides agreed that the two Chinese companies would purchase 12,000 tonnes of Yunlin oranges at NT$15 per kilogram, the first shipment of which -- three containers -- is scheduled to leave for Shanghai today.
■ Crime
Lawmakers to visit PRC
A group of lawmakers across party lines yesterday said that they would organize a trip to China to discuss with Chinese authorities the issue of enhancing cooperation in combating crime. People First Party Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chu Feng-chi (朱鳳芝) and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Rong-shu (許榮淑) said they would join the trip. The lawmakers held a public hearing on the issue as they said that China has become a haven for Taiwanese fugitives, especially white-collar criminals, because of the lack of an extradition agreement between Taiwan and China. Mark Chen (陳明傳), a professor from the Central Police University, hailed the idea, saying the move would put pressure on China to deal with the problem.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
RSS