Filipinos abroad must register as absentees to vote
The Commission on Elections in Manila announced that all Philippine citizens abroad not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least 18 years old on election day and who wish to vote in presidential, vice presidential, senatorial and party-list representative elections on the May, 10, 2010, national elections, must file applications from overseas as absentee voters between Dec. 1 and Aug. 31 next year. The voting period will be from April 10, 2010, until 3pm on May 10, 2010. Further details are available at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in the following cities: Taipei (02) 2508-2224, attention Aquino; Taichung (04) 2229-5901, attention Elvena; and Kaohsiung (07) 398-5935 ext. 36, attention Tangco. Additional information is also available at the following Web sites: Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.gov.ph) and Commission on Elections (www.comelec.gov.ph).
BTCO announces scholarship winners
The British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) on Aug. 21 announced the seven winners of this year’s BTCO award. The scholarship recipients will all start master’s courses in the UK this fall in subjects ranging from law and environmental policy to finance and fashion industry management. The one-year scholarships will provide up to £12,000 (US$22,000) for tuition. This year, the BTCO will offer a joint scholarship with the Delta Electronic Foundation specifically targeted at those who plan to make a contribution to tackling climate change and other environmental issues. The BTCO scholarship is awarded annually and is unique in that it looks for potential future leaders who can use their influence and standing to benefit Taiwan. Applicants are selected on both their academic strength and their commitment and ambition to make a difference upon their return. The scholarship is operated by the BTCO and administered by the British Council. A scheme for academics starting in the fall this year will be launched this month. More information is available on the BTCO Web site at ukintaiwan.fco.gov.uk/en/ or the British Council’s Web site at www.britishcouncil.org.tw.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
BULLY TACTICS: Beijing has continued its incursions into Taiwan’s airspace even as Xi Jinping talked about Taiwan being part of the Chinese family and nation China should stop its coercion of Taiwan and respect mainstream public opinion in Taiwan about sovereignty if its expression of goodwill is genuine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) made the comment in response to media queries about a meeting between former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) the previous day. Ma voiced support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Xi said that although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have “different systems,” this does not change the fact that they are “part of the same country,” and that “external
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source