CRIME
Man arrested after fight
Taichung prosecutors yesterday sought the continued detention of a man accused of pushing a Taiwan Railway Corp station worker onto the tracks after entering the platform without a ticket. The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said the 39-year-old suspect, surnamed Chen (陳), is being investigated for attempted murder. After questioning Chen yesterday morning, prosecutors said he poses a flight risk and requested his detention. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Wuquan Station in Taichung, where Chen allegedly entered the station without a ticket. A station worker tried to get Chen to leave the platform, and Chen allegedly pushed him onto the tracks, the Taichung Precinct of the Railway Police Bureau said. The worker broke his ankle, but climbed back onto the platform, police said. Police said they were notified of the incident at 3:44pm on Monday, and Chen was arrested at about 6pm after fleeing the scene.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
DIPLOMACY
Estonia eases rules
Taiwanese can drive in Estonia for up to one year using an International Driving Permit (IDP), without needing an official Estonian translation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The ministry previously announced in February that the Estonian government would allow holders of a Taiwanese driver’s license and an IDP, along with an official translation of that document, to drive in the Baltic state for stays under 12 months. Department of European Affairs Director Eric Huang (黃鈞耀) said the Estonian government has further relaxed the rules, removing the translation requirement for Taiwanese.
FOOD SAFETY
Star anise batch destroyed
A shipment of 8,947kg of star anise fragments imported from China was destroyed at the border after testing positive for Sudan III dye, a banned industrial coloring agent, the Food and Drug Administration said yesterday. The batch, imported by Jofont Biotechnology Co (宏芳生物科技), was among 14 products on the noncompliance list released, including Japanese melons, South Korean frozen marlin, French spice powder, Australian mandarins and Vietnamese broccoli. Agency official Liu Fang-ming (劉芳銘) said the agency is carrying out inspections for Sudan dyes on all star anise fragments from China from April 11 last year through Sept. 30 next year.
DIPLOMACY
Taiwan lectureship unveiled
Roma Tre University on Monday signed an agreement with Taiwan’s representative office in Italy to establish a Taiwan studies lectureship, expanding its Sinology research beyond a “China-centered” perspective. The lectureship is part of a Ministry of Education initiative to promote Taiwan-focused research and raise the nation’s global visibility through partnerships with leading universities. Representative to Italy Vincent Tsai (蔡允中) said the program would deepen bilateral ties, and boost academic and cultural exchanges. Roma Tre University president Massimiliano Fiorucci said the partnership reflects the growing importance of academic collaboration between Taiwan and Italy. Roma Tre has previously worked with Taiwan through education and cultural programs launched in 2012, hosting conferences, Mandarin courses and film festivals about Taiwanese culture, he added. The five-year lectureship is to cover topics such as literature, international relations, Taiwan’s role in the Indo-Pacific region, and its leadership in artificial intelligence, communications technology and economics.
Trips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes and
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today released images of the military tracking China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) movements during the latest round of Chinese drills around Taiwan. The PLA began "Justice Mission 2025" drills today, carrying out live-fire drills, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the nation's main ports. The exercises are to continue tomorrow, with the PLA announcing sea and air space restrictions for five zones around Taiwan for 10 hours starting from 8:30am. The ministry today released images showing a Chinese J-16 fighter jet tracked by a F-16V Block 20 jet and the
City buses in Taipei and New Taipei City, as well as the Taipei MRT, would on Saturday begin accepting QR code payments from five electronic payment providers, the Taipei Department of Transportation said yesterday. The new option would allow passengers to use the “transportation QR code” feature from EasyWallet, iPass Money, iCash Pay, Jkopay or PXPay Plus. Passengers should open their preferred electronic payment app, select the “transportation code” — not the regular payment code — unlock it, and scan the code at ticket readers or gates, General Planning Division Director-General Liu Kuo-chu (劉國著) said. People should move through the
Snow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山) yesterday morning as a continental cold air mass sent temperatures below freezing on Taiwan’s tallest peak, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Snowflakes were seen on Yushan’s north peak from 6:28am to 6:38am, but they did not fully cover the ground and no accumulation was recorded, the CWA said. As of 7:42am, the lowest temperature recorded across Taiwan was minus-5.5°C at Yushan’s Fengkou observatory and minus-4.7°C at the Yushan observatory, CWA data showed. On Hehuanshan (合歡山) in Nantou County, a low of 1.3°C was recorded at 6:39pm, when ice pellets fell at Songsyue Lodge (松雪樓), a
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