■ Tourism
Train service resumes
The Alishan train service, which has been suspended since the March 1 derailment that left 17 people dead and another 170 injured, will resume today, Council of Agriculture Vice Chairman Tai Chen-yao (戴振耀) announced yesterday. Following a series of examinations and repairs to the damaged section of the narrow-gauge railway, a test run was conducted yesterday. The train left Chiayi Station for Alishan yesterday morning without any trouble and returned from Alishan safely later in the day. A mechanic has been charged with neglecting to open an air valve connecting the braking system of the carriages, resulting in brake failure of the four-carriage train that lead to the accident. Two drivers and the chief attendant of the train also face the same charge.
■ Defense
Minister to warn of buildup
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has conspic-uously intensified its combat preparedness in coastal regions over the past year, according to a report to be delivered by Minister of Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) to the Legislative Yuan today. During the past year, the report says, the PLA's frogmen troops deployed in coastal areas have been upgraded into amphibious forces capable of carrying out landing, loading and unloading missions while equipped with the gear needed to take and hold a beach. At the invitation of the Legislature's National Defense Committee, Tang will present the report analyzing the latest situation regarding the PLA and its threat to the country. According to the report, the PLA naval exercises have been focused on joint-forces combat operations, missile attacks and aggressive drills, aimed mainly at intensifying the navy's landing capabilities.
■ Transportation
Ministry undecided on flights
The Ministry of Transport-ation and Communications (MOTC) has not proposed that future charter flights across the Taiwan Strait be exempted from having to land en route at a third place, a senior ministry official said yesterday. "This proposal was broached by the airlines," Vice Minister Tsai Duei (蔡堆) said, adding that the MOTC has not yet decided whether to include the idea in the ministry's evaluation report on the indirect cross-strait charter flights that ran during the Lunar New Year holiday. Tsai was responding to a newspaper report that claimed the ministry has proposed allowing indirect cross-strait charter flights to make a detour that would avoid the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait without having to land in a third place.
■ Defense
Special task force set up
The Ministry of National Defense has set up a special task force to monitor the situations in Iraq and North Korea, according to a ministry report released yesterday. The report, to be presented to the Legislative Yuan's National Defense Committee today, says the ministry has also stepped up contacts with foreign military authorities and has expanded its intelligence sources in the face of a looming US-led war in Iraq. In addition, the Yunghsing task force is keeping in close touch with the nation's overseas offices and foreign military representatives stationed in Taipei to exchange early-warning intelligence. To cope with terrorists, the report says, the military has forged a combined services command mechanism to tackle any emergencies.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
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,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
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