TRAVEL
Airport tax to rise in April
The airport tax departing passengers must pay is set to rise from NT$300 (US$9.5) to NT$500 in April, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said yesterday. The increase in revenue will be used to improve airport facilities and promote tourism, the agency said. Airport tax has not been raised for 27 years, and an increase in the fee would bring the nation more in line with international standards, the agency said. Singapore’s Changi Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport both charge more than NT$800 per passenger, while Japan’s Narita Airport and Incheon International Airport in South Korea charge about NT$700. The CAA said the airport tax brought in about NT$5.3 billion last year. After the tax hike takes effect, the government will earn about NT$9 billion in airport tax annually, and the previous 60-40 distribution ratio will become 50-50, the agency said.
HEALTH
Enterovirus 71 case reported
The public should remain on alert against enterovirus and pay attention to hygiene after the first imported case of enterovirus 71 infection was reported recently, the Centers for Disease Control said yesterday. A three-year-old boy who lives in Malaysia developed a sore throat and earache after his family arrived in the nation on Nov. 26, the agency said. He was confirmed to have enterovirus 71 on Nov. 27 and has now recovered. The centers reminded the public to take precautions, as the virus could remain active in the winter. Infants and children under the age of five are at increased risk of developing enterovirus infections with severe complications, officials said, adding that as soon as a child shows suspected symptoms of the virus, such as persistent fever, drowsiness, inactivity or continuous vomiting, the child should be taken to a hospital immediately for a check-up.
FISHERIES
Captain dies after capsizing
A fishing boat captain has died and two other crew members remain unaccounted for after their vessel hit rocks in waters off the northern coast and capsized late on Friday, the Coast Guard Administration said. The boat, which set sail at 1pm from Yehliu (野柳) in New Taipei City with 11 people aboard, was reported to have overturned at 11:27pm, the agency said. Coast guard personnel managed to rescue eight people from the sea. The captain’s body was found about 6am yesterday. The search is continuing for the two crew members, one of whom is Taiwanese and the other Indonesian, the coast guard said.
CRIME
Winery under investigation
A winery in Taoyuan County’s Yangmei Township (楊梅) is under investigation for allegedly selling Australian red wine diluted with a locally made version to distributors and supermarkets. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday said that Universal Distiller Product Co had allegedly sold various kinds of red wine, labeled as imported, to distributors that included hypermarkets and convenience store chains. At least some of the wine was not entirely imported, but had had been mixed with cheaper local wine, prosecutors said, adding that the winery had sold more than 100,000 bottles of diluted red wine over the past year. They said the company allegedly made a profit of almost NT$10 million from sales of the suspect wine.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
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