SOCIETY
Wang Tso-yung dies
Former Control Yuan president Wang Tso-yung (王作榮) died from pneumonia on Tuesday at the age of 95, his family said. Wang, who headed the government watchdog from 1996 to 1999 under then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), felt unwell on Sunday and was admitted to Taipei Veterans General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia, according to People First Party Legislator Thomas Lee (李桐豪), who was one of Wang’s students. Wang’s condition deteriorated on Monday, leading to septicemia and shock, which caused his death on Tuesday morning, the lawmaker said. Wang’s last public appearance was on June 17, when President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) honored him with an Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon for his contribution to the country. He received the honor while sitting in a wheelchair and had to thank Ma through his son, Wang Nien-tsu (王念祖), who said the award gave his father the greatest pleasure.
WEATHER
Tropical storm brings rain
A tropical storm that formed in the South China Sea yesterday may not affect the nation directly, but it could trigger heavy showers in eastern and southern parts of the nation, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. As of 2pm, Tropical Storm Jebi was centered 980km southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), moving northwest at 9kph, the bureau said. The storm was packing sustained winds of 65kph, gusting to 90kph. The storm is expected to remain far from Taiwan over the next few days, forecasters said. Ships operating in waters south of Taiwan have been warned to be on the alert for high waves. Jebi, which means “swallow” in Korean, is the ninth storm of this year’s Pacific typhoon season.
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
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
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