CRIME
Executive indicted over fire
Launch Technologies Co chairman Liu An-hao (劉安皓) and five other executives have been charged with negligent homicide over the deaths of 10 people in a fire on Sept. 22 last year, the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday. The company was earlier fined NT$2.4 million (US$76,793) for failing to fully disclose the contents of the golf ball factory in Pingtung, including nearly 3 tonnes of illegally stored organic peroxides. Among those killed by the blaze and subsequent explosions were four firefighters, who were not provided the necessary rescue information by Launch Technologies, investigators said. The company also failed to assign a person to the site to assist the fire commander in accordance with the law, they said. Liu, along with general manager Lu Ying-cheng (呂英誠) and an assistant vice president surnamed Cheng (鄭) had been indicted on charges including causing death and injury through negligence, prosecutors said. Liu, Lu and Cheng have been ordered to post bail of NT$6 million, NT$5 million and NT$4.5 million respectively, they said.
SOCIETY
Tree trimming draws fire
Extensive trimming of a 1km stretch of Madagascar almond trees along a road in Taitung’s Luye Township (鹿野) yesterday drew criticism, although the local government defended it as necessary. Photos of the scenic roadway — known as a “green tunnel” — were widely shared in local media yesterday, showing the trees’ branches cut back into leafless knobs left barely protruding from their trunks. A farmer whose field borders the roadway said the trees needed to be periodically trimmed so they would not block crops’ access to sunlight or spread debris when a typhoon hit. “Tourism is important, but you also have to consider farmers’ livelihoods,” he said. Luye Township Mayor Lee Wei-shun (李維順) said the trees need to be cut back quite aggressively, as their roots can damage roadside gutters and pavements if they are left unchecked.
TRANSPORTATION
Taichung to add Blue Line
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday said it had approved plans to build a new Blue Line on the Taichung Metro, but it would take an estimated 10 years before it is opened to the public. The new line would cost NT$161.51 billion (US$5.17 billion), with the central government providing NT$67.56 billion, the ministry said in a statement last night. The Blue Line is to begin at the Port of Taichung and travel eastward through Shalu (沙鹿) and Situn (西屯) districts before arriving in central Taichung. It will intersect with the Taichung Metro’s other existing line, the Green Line, and provide a major boost to the system’s service capacity and the balanced development of the city’s urban and rural sectors, the ministry added.
EARTHQUAKES
Two quakes strike Hualien
Two earthquakes measuring 5.2 and 4.9 in magnitude struck Hualien County at 2:11am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration said. The epicenters of the temblors were in Hualien’s Wanrong Township (萬榮) at a depth of 5 to 13km, the Seismology Center said. The earthquakes’ intensity was highest in Hualien’s Guangfu Township (光復), where it measured a 4 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quakes also reached level 3 in parts of Hualien and Nantou counties, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
PUBLISHING
Benesse to limit print
Benesse, publisher of the educational children’s magazine series featuring the cartoon tiger Chiao-Hu (巧虎), yesterday issued a notice that it would stop accepting new subscriptions for its print edition from March 1. About 1.83 million families with children have subscribed to the monthly magazine since it launched in Taiwan in 1989. The decision to stop accepting new subscriptions was based primarily on changes in print-based reading habits, the evolution of educational content and in response to climate change, it said. Benesse said the magazine would continue to be published for existing subscribers, and that its other Chiao-Hu products and services in Taiwan, including learning materials, a YouTube channel, cartoon series, stage show and Taoyuan amusement park, would remain available.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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