Fri, May 31, 2024 page3

• Taiwan News Quick Take

  • Staff writer, with CNA
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  AIRLINES

  Starlux to add Jakarta route

  Starlux Airlines is to begin operating flights between Taoyuan and Jakarta in September, the carrier said on Wednesday. Starlux confirmed the news after speculation from Indonesia-based Taiwanese businesspeople and aviation enthusiasts about the new route. The route connecting Taiwan and the Indonesian capital is to operate five weekly flights using A321neo aircraft, with tickets set to go on sale soon, the airline said. EVA Air and China Airlines currently fly seven and 10 weekly flights respectively between the destinations.

  AIRLINES

  Airbus to upgrade cabins

  Airbus on Wednesday said it had signed a letter of intent with China Airlines to upgrade the carrier’s A350 cabins with a new layout and amenities. Under the agreement, Airbus Services would oversee the installation of China Airlines’ latest Premium Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats on its fleet of 15 A350-900s, the company said in a statement. The retrofit is expected to cost about US$400 million, the airline said in a statement on March 8. However, the timing of the modification would depend on when the contract with Airbus is signed, the airline said. Airbus said that the upgrades would cover seating in all classes, in-flight infotainment systems and the cabin environment.

  LABOR

  Care program to resume

  The Ministry of Labor is mapping out a plan to resume the suspended dispatched migrant caregiver program, which is set to be launched on a trial basis later this year, in one or two cities or counties, an official said on Wednesday. The program was suspended mainly because people eligible for the service were subject to the same criteria as those eligible to hire long-term migrant caregivers, which removed incentives for dispatched caregivers, Cross-Border Workforce Management Division head Paul Su (蘇裕國) said. However, this time the eligibility of users could be expanded to include families requiring urgent care services. In the early iteration of the program, only families with crucial care needs or individuals with severe mental or physical disabilities could apply for dispatched migrant caregivers, Su said. The plan is to be finalized after it has been discussed with the public, he said.

  ENVIRONMENT

  Bullfrogs euthanized

  Taijiang National Park in Tainan has euthanized more than 4,000 banded bullfrogs since 2020 in an effort to prevent the non-indigenous species from reproducing, a park service staffer said on Wednesday. The non-native species makes a “loud noise” and is capable of adapting to different environments and laying more than 5,000 eggs at a time, making it necessary to control the population, the staffer said. The park began monitoring the frog species after it was first spotted in 2018 and one year later the population reached about 1,000. As a result, from 2020 to last year the park euthanized 4,212 frogs, the staffer said. The frogs are mainly found in southern Taiwan, especially Chengxi Windbreak Forest in the park. However, they have recently been sighted in central and northern areas, including Miaoli County. To raise public awareness of the species’ impact on local ecosystems, the park headquarters has held an annual educational gathering since 2020 to introduce people to the species and instruct people on how to catch them. This year’s event is to take place on June 29.
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