SOCIETY
Wang Tso-yung dies
Former Control Yuan president Wang Tso-yung (王作榮) died from pneumonia on Tuesday at the age of 95, his family said. Wang, who headed the government watchdog from 1996 to 1999 under then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), felt unwell on Sunday and was admitted to Taipei Veterans General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia, according to People First Party Legislator Thomas Lee (李桐豪), who was one of Wang’s students. Wang’s condition deteriorated on Monday, leading to septicemia and shock, which caused his death on Tuesday morning, the lawmaker said. Wang’s last public appearance was on June 17, when President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) honored him with an Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon for his contribution to the country. He received the honor while sitting in a wheelchair and had to thank Ma through his son, Wang Nien-tsu (王念祖), who said the award gave his father the greatest pleasure.
WEATHER
Tropical storm brings rain
A tropical storm that formed in the South China Sea yesterday may not affect the nation directly, but it could trigger heavy showers in eastern and southern parts of the nation, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. As of 2pm, Tropical Storm Jebi was centered 980km southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), moving northwest at 9kph, the bureau said. The storm was packing sustained winds of 65kph, gusting to 90kph. The storm is expected to remain far from Taiwan over the next few days, forecasters said. Ships operating in waters south of Taiwan have been warned to be on the alert for high waves. Jebi, which means “swallow” in Korean, is the ninth storm of this year’s Pacific typhoon season.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have
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