The John Tung Foundation (
The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting smoking.
The foundation also said the TTWB's move may jeopardize Taiwan's previous efforts to join the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, currently in the process of being drafted.
In addition, the foundation is to call for a boycott by other countries in the Asia Pacific region.
According to media reports, the "520 light" developed by the TTWB is to officially be launched on the market in China, Hong Kong, and Macau as early as the end of July.
The "520 light" -- pronounced similarly to the words "I love you" in Mandarin -- was originally going to be launched in Taiwan on May 20 last year to mark the third anniversary of former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) inauguration as Taiwan's first popularly elected president.
However, in light of harsh criticism from social and legislative groups the TTWB was forced to announce on May 13 last year that it had suspended production of the new cigarette.
The cigarette was designed by the TTWB to compete with foreign brands which have in recent years been gaining market share on the island.
With a fruity aroma and heart signs on the filter, the "520" cigarettes were reportedly targeted at young people, indicating it was "cool" to smoke the brand.
The John Tung Foundation lashed out at the TTWB for attempting to lure youngsters into a life of smoking.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Footage showing bodies lying on the pavement appeared on social media in the hours after the crash, but had vanished by early Tuesday morning, and local police reported only “injuries.” It took officials nearly 24 hours to reveal that dozens had died — in one of the country’s deadliest incidents in years. China heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to