KMT pushes for judicial mental facilityOUTRAGE: Amid an uproar over the acquittals of two men on murder charges due to impaired judgement, the KMT called for concrete plans to build such hospitalsBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterThe government must put forward a timetable for establishing “judicial mental hospitals,” the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said yesterday. More than three months have passed since a man diagnosed with schizophrenia was acquitted for killing Railway Police Bureau officer Lee Cheng-han (李承翰), prompting public calls for the government to establish judicial mental hospitals for criminals with mental illnesses, the KMT said. The High Court’s acquittal of Liang showed that there is a long road ahead for judicial reform, and Tsai should accelerate efforts to improve the judicial system, so that it can properly serve its purpose of serving justice and regain people’s trust, the KMT said. The DPP should back the proposed amendments, which are feasible and in line with public expectations, the KMT said. Executive Yuan spokesman Ting Yi-ming (丁怡銘) said the establishment of judicial mental hospitals would involve intergovernmental discussions on treatment, prevention and staffing.

Tesla seeks approval for sensor that could detect child left in hot vehiclesReuters, WASHINGTONTesla Inc asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval to market a short-range interactive motion-sensing device that could help prevent children from being left behind in hot vehicles and boost theft-prevention systems. A worker parks a Tesla Inc vehicle at the company’s assembly plant in Fremont, California, on Thursday last week. Photo: BloombergMillimeter wave radar technology has advantages over other sensing systems, such as camera-based or in-seat occupant detection systems, Tesla said. The radar-based system “provides depth perception and can ‘see’ through soft materials, such as a blanket covering a child in a child restraint,” it said. Each stockholder of record by the close of business yesterday received four additional shares of common stock for each one that they owned.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, right, gestures during a radio interview in Taipei yesterday. The teen had not shown any virus symptoms since his arrival, but on Saturday last week was tested by local health authorities, it said. Changhua County Public Health Bureau Director Yeh Yen-po is pictured in the county yesterday. Chen said that the Changhua bureau had conducted virus tests for hundreds of people under quarantine over the past six months without informing the CECC. However, Yeh’s comments sparked debate over whether local testing procedures might differ from the CECC’s policies and create loopholes in disease prevention measures.

Court acquits man convicted of matricide‘IMITATION EFFECT’: The minister of justice said the ruling could lead to more people claiming they were under the influence of drugs at the time of a crimeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe High Court yesterday acquitted a man who was convicted of decapitating his mother in Taoyuan in 2018, reversing an earlier life sentence and sparking criticism. Liang Tsung-ming, left, is escorted by police at the High Court in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei TimesThe Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said it would appeal the High Court’s ruling. “This High Court decision does not reflect the public’s understanding [of the law] and expectations... I think many people would have trouble accepting this ruling,” Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said.

KMT to push for Pratas Islands visitBy Aaron Tu and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said that it would continue to push for its plan to inspect the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) after the Ministry of National Defense canceled a planned visit citing insufficient review time. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen, center, holds a document at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. KMT Legislator Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) said there have been six visits, four to the Pratas Islands and two to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in as many years, indicating that such visits are commonplace. The KMT is willing to wait for the ministry to complete its “due procedures” and will continue to apply to visit the Pratas Islands, Lin said. While the council has jurisdiction over the islands, the ministry has control over visits, as the Pratas, like the Spratley Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), are restricted areas.

COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials approvedANTIBODIES: Adimmune became the first in the nation to gain FDA approval to start phase 1 human tests, which it plans to commence by the end of this monthBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved Adimmune Corp’s (國光生技) application to conduct phase I clinical trials of its COVID-19 candidate vaccine, making it the first in the nation to get the green light, the company said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange yesterday. The FDA on Monday granted Adimmune conditional approval for its clinical trial application, asking it to submit additional technical data. After complying with the request, the company received full approval yesterday, it said in a press release. Adimmune plans to enroll 60 to 70 healthy adult participants, who would be divided into three groups that would receive low, medium and high doses of the drug, Pan said. To speed up development of the vaccine, Adimmune intends to combine the phase II and phase III trials into a phase II/III design and run the final phase in November, subject to FDA approval, he said.

People questioned in Pharmally probeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday summoned 14 people for questioning amid a probe into alleged securities fraud at Pharmally International Holding Co, while an international warrant was issued for Pharmally chairman Tony Huang (黃文烈), who reportedly is in Singapore. Four banks — Entie Commercial Bank, Far Eastern International Bank, Hua Nan Bank and Bank SinoPac — face non-performing loans after lending to Pharmally, investigators said. A group of three businesspeople, headed by Tsai Shui-ping (蔡水濱), who are involved in real estate and construction in central Taiwan invested heavily in Pharmally face combined losses of NT$2.2 billion, investigators said. Prosecutors said that employees of accounting firm Deloitte & Touche Taiwan allegedly colluded for several years with Pharmally executives to forge reports and financial statements. In the first round of raids on Monday, Shih Ching-pin (施景彬) and Chiang Ming-nan (江明南), two accountants at Deloitte & Touche Taiwan, were questioned.

Premier presents awards over results of criminal casesBy Sean Lin / Staff reporterPremier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday presented awards to civil servants who were instrumental in investigations that he said helped maintain social stability and safeguard the economy. Premier Su Tseng-chang, second right, smiles at an awards ceremony in Taipei yesterday after presenting awards to civil servants who helped foil an operation making counterfeit Triple Stimulus Vouchers. The Yunlin District Prosecutors’ Office, the Yunlin County Police Bureau and the Ocean Affairs Council joined forces to investigate a factory in Yunlin County that was making counterfeit Triple Stimulus Vouchers, Su said. Equipment was seized and five suspects were arrested, ending an operation that had a potential cost to the public of NT$370 million (US$12.53 million), he said. The Customs Administration, as well as Taichung and Hsinchu County police department personnel intercepted 277,000 Chinese-made masks labeled as “Made in Taiwan,” Su said.

Tropical depression might affect weekend’s weatherBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterA tropical disturbance east of the Philippines is likely to turn into a tropical storm or a typhoon, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday, adding that it could affect the weather across the nation this weekend. If a tropical storm or a typhoon is to form, it would be named “Bavi,” after a mountain in Vietnam, the bureau said. A weather map, with Taiwan in the center, showing a low pressure system to the east of the Philippines. Chances of heavy rainfall are high in the mountainous areas, he said, adding that if the system moves closer to Taiwan, heavy rainfall could occur across the nation. Between Monday and Wednesday, residents in central and southern Taiwan should be prepare for extreme weather, Wu said.

Control Yuan member slams KoBy Kuo An-chia and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerControl Yuan member Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday accused Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of political manipulation following a media report of Ko alleging that Chen was involved in a city construction project scandal. The report, quoting a Taipei city councilor that requested anonymity, said that the move was Ko’s attempt to embarrass President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the DPP chairperson. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, center, steps out of a vehicle in Taipei yesterday. Responding to criticism from Chen that he had resorted to political manipulation, Ko said that the case was brought to his attention by DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) in November last year. “If there were concerns about Chen before, why did Ko not object to the DPP nominating him as a Control Yuan member earlier this year,” she asked.

Programs and movies provided by Chinese streaming service iQiyi are displayed on the Taiwan version of the service’s Web site on Tuesday. “The act was necessary because the cable television service operators have asked that the commission apply across-the-board standards to regulate all audiovisual service platforms, which should include OTT services. It was not stipulated just to address the problems caused by iQiyi and other Chinese OTT operators,” he said. Taiwan has denied iQiyi so-called landing right, as China has also banned Taiwanese OTT operators from landing there, he said. Aside from agents, advertisers and marketing professionals recruited by Chinese OTT operators, the “intermediary services” covered by the list also include those offered by content delivery networks, Internet data providers, and payment and customer service operators, the commission said.

Workers need more breaks on hot days, NPP legislator saysBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterNew Power Party (NPP) Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) yesterday asked the Ministry of Labor to set new rules to better protect workers from heat-related injuries, including rules for breaks on high-temperature days. New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih holds a chart at a news conference in Taipei yesterday as he called on the Ministry of Labor to give workers better protection from heat-related injuries. The current rules on labor management in high-temperature environments focus on indoor environments, such as factories, Chiu said, adding that the rules should be revised. The labor ministry should also consider whether outdoor workers deserve more compensation, as they face greater health risks, he said. “Heat and humidity impedes workers’ reaction times.

Coalition urges funding for Lee libraryTAIWANESE IDENTITY: A presidential library and museum would preserve Lee’s legacy and contributions in Taiwan’s transition into a democracy, groups saidBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterLeaders of pro-Taiwan civic organizations and independence advocates yesterday called for government funding to establish a Lee Teng-hui presidential library and museum, saying that it would be the best way to commemorate the former president’s achievements and preserve his legacy. Representatives of pro-Taiwan organizations at the National Taiwan University Alumni Center in Taipei yesterday call for government assistance in establishing the proposed Lee Teng-hui presidential library and museum. “It is also the wish of [former] president Lee. The project would require state funding and the power of the government to see through its completion, Taiwan Society chairman Li Chuan-hsin (李川信) said. “Lee is recognized around the world as Mr Democracy, and our society recognizes him as the first president for Taiwanese people.

Yulon to spend NT$12.7bn on its vehicle research unitBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterYulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) yesterday said that it is to invest NT$12.7 billion (US$430.39 million) in its Hua-chuang Automobile Information Technical Center (華創車電) research unit after it in May cut the unit’s share capital by 99.9 percent, or NT$3.28 billion. Yulon Motor Co spokesman and vice president Steven Lo, left, and vice president Lee Chien-hui pose for a photograph at the company’s investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Amy Yang, Taipei TimesThe new company “is to be set up in the fourth quarter,” Yulon vice president Lee Chien-hui (李建輝) told an investors’ conference. That translated into earnings per share of NT$0.5, compared with losses per share of NT$0.93 a year earlier. Revenue shrank 9 percent year-on-year to NT$37.37 billion from NT$41 billion, as car sales fell by 3,800 units.

Virus Outbreak: Foreign students to be allowed backNEW SEMESTER: The new policy would affect 232 current students and 2,300 freshmen, who would be allowed into Taiwan in groups of 50 to 100 per dayBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterStarting yesterday, schools at the senior-high school level and under can apply for foreign students, including Chinese, to enter Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. They include students from China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as current students and freshmen, he said. Deputy Minister of Education Lio Mon-chi (劉孟奇) said there are 2,532 eligible students who can apply to enter Taiwan, of whom 232 are current students and 2,300 are freshmen. Chen Shih-chung also commented on media reports that a traveler from Taiwan had tested positive in Shanghai and another had tested positive in Vietnam. As 14 days have passed since the three tested positive, the panel deems them not having had a negative impact on Taiwan’s disease situation, he added.