SOCIETY
Overstayer program unveiled
A forgiveness program has been introduced to help foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas to leave Taiwan easily and quickly, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said on Wednesday. The measure encourages foreign nationals who have overstayed their visa to report to NIA offices across the country by June 30. As long as a minimum fine of NT$2,000 is paid before boarding an expedited flight out the country, such people would be allowed to leave without being placed in a detention center, it said. Draft amendments have been referred to the legislature with a goal of discouraging foreigners from illegally overstaying in Taiwan, the NIA said. The proposed amendments would increase fines for overstaying foreign nationals to NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000, with a ban on offenders returning to Taiwan extended from three years to 10.
DIPLOMACY
You Si-kun meets Moriarty
Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?), who has just concluded a three-day visit to the US, on Thursday said that he met with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman James Moriarty on Wednesday. US government officials handling labor, human rights and environmental issues were also at the meeting with Moriarty, You said, but he did not elaborate on what was discussed. On Thursday, he traveled to New York to meet with Taiwanese expatriate groups before departing for Taiwan in the evening. Earlier in the trip, he attended the National Prayer Breakfast, at which US President Joe Biden addressed more than 400 members of the US Congress, other US government officials and foreign guests.
CRIME
Mother sentenced for killing
A woman was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison for killing her two-year-old daughter prior to attempting suicide, the Supreme Court said on Thursday in a final verdict that upheld a High Court ruling. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), had attempted to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills before burning charcoal in a closed room where her daughter had fallen asleep after being fed strawberry jam laced with sleeping pills on April 11, 2021, the Shilin District Court said. The Shilin court said that Chen — who it determined has a long-term psychiatric disorder — had decided she would rather have her daughter die with her than be taken by the girl’s father. Her daughter died due to inhalation of excessive carbon monoxide from the burning charcoal, it said. In March last year, the Shilin District Court sentenced Chen to 12 years in jail for the intentional killing of a child. The case was heard again in August last year at the High Court, which shortened the sentence to 11 years and 10 months after Chen expressed remorse.
HEALTH
COVID-19 deaths top 100
Taiwan yesterday reported 105 deaths attributable to COVID-19, the first time since the middle of July last year that the single-day death toll exceeded 100, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) data showed. The CECC attributed the surge to a buildup of cases during the Lunar New Year holiday, during which many medical institutions were closed. It said that the daily number of deaths would likely decrease starting today. The deceased reported yesterday ranged in age from their 20s to their 90s. All but five had underlying health issues, while 47 had not been vaccinated against the disease, the CECC said.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
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