Taiwan News Quick Take

Temperatures are expected to rise slightly today as seasonal winds affecting northern Taiwan weaken, with daytime highs of about 30°C and nighttime lows of about 20°C, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Eastern Taiwan would see temperatures from 22°C to 27°C, and between 22°C and 30°C for central and southern Taiwan, it said. Rain is expected to ease today and only affect the northern coast and eastern Taiwan. Other areas would be mostly cloudy to sunny, although afternoon showers remain possible in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said. The seasonal northeasterly winds are expected to strengthen again tomorrow and into early Saturday, bringing showers to areas north of Taoyuan and eastern Taiwan, it said. Localized showers are expected in eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula, it said.

TRANSPORTATION

MRT hours to be extended

Operating hours at three Taipei Metro stations would be extended and additional trains would run for the Nuit Blanche arts festival on Saturday, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said yesterday. Yuanshan (圓山), Minquan West Road (民權西路) and Zhongshan Elementary School (中山國小) stations would remain open for entry and exit until 2am on Sunday. Shuanglian (雙連), Zhongshan (中山) and Taipei Main (台北車站) stations would allow passengers to exit only, it said. After regular service ends on Saturday night, additional trains would run every 20 minutes, operating one-way from Yuanshan to Taipei Main Station and from Zhongshan Elementary School to Minquan West Road. Train intervals on the Bannan Line would be reduced to 2.5 to 3 minutes on Saturday to accommodate several events, such as concerts at Taipei Dome and the Pride parade.

TRANSPORTATION

Uber offers charter service

Uber yesterday launched a vehicle charter service in five northern Taiwan cities, allowing users to book a driver and vehicle for a set period. The service was launched in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan and Hsinchu cities, it said. Users can book vehicles for two to 10 hours, it said, adding that the service is suited for sightseeing tours, outings with family or friends and travel between cities. It said it plans to expand the service to other cities and counties. Self-planned short trips are becoming more common in Taiwan, with independent travelers accounting for more than 90 percent of domestic tourism in Taiwan, Uber said, citing a Tourism Administration survey last year. Almost 80 percent of trips were same-day excursions, it added.

CRIME

Teacher indicted over assault

Taipei prosecutors yesterday indicted an elementary-school teacher for allegedly sexually assaulting 38 students over 16 years. They sought the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the teacher, a man surnamed Chou (周), who allegedly targeted boys in the upper grades of elementary school. In 2010, Chou began working at a school in Taipei as a homeroom teacher, subject teacher and after-school Lego instructor, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said. Chou allegedly offered students, toys, snacks, drinks, video games and game credits to lure them into classrooms, swimming pools, hot spring hotels, resorts and his residence, where he sexually assaulted them, prosecutors said, adding that he allegedly filmed the abuse. Investigators searched Chou’s residence and the school on July 23 and Aug. 4 respectively, seizing his computer, hard drives and other equipment.