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.
The observatory at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) is to reopen tomorrow after nearly two years of renovation, the Civil Aviation Administration said yesterday. The civil aviation authority made the announcement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend after Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) visited the renovated facility yesterday morning. Chen said he loved watching planes fly overhead in Taipei’s Binjiang Street, adding that he was particularly impressed by the childcare room as well as the futuristic-style entrance to the observatory. Taipei International Airport Office is conducting a final inspection of the observatory today and tomorrow before reopening it
Taiwanese scientists have engineered plants that can capture about 50 percent more carbon dioxide and produce more than twice as many seeds as unmodified plants, a breakthrough they hope could one day help mitigate global warming and grow more food staples such as rice. If applied to major food crops, the new system could cut carbon emissions and raise yields “without additional equipment or labor costs,” Academia Sinica researcher and lead author the study Lu Kuan-jen (呂冠箴) said. Academia Sinica president James Liao (廖俊智) said that as humans emit 9.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide compared with the 220 billion tonnes absorbed
TEST RUNS? The site’s improved accuracy shows Beijing intends to use it to train PLA forces in conducting strikes against Taiwan’s leadership in the zone, an official said The military has deployed multiple medium and close-range air defense missile and artillery systems, anti-drone countermeasures and combat unit to defend Boai Special District (博愛特區), a defense official said yesterday. Boai District is home to the Presidential Office Building, the Ministry of National Defense and many other government buildings. The official made the remarks after Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun in a report on Wednesday said China has expanded its military training mock-up of government buildings in Taipei, which includes the Presidential Office Building, by almost 300 percent since 2020. Satellite images obtained by think tank Japan Institute for National Fundamentals of the
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
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