Diplomacy: HK bars five DPP lawmakers
Hong Kong has barred five DPP lawmakers from from visiting the territory to attend receptions marking Double Ten Day, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday. "We lodge a serious protest and express our deep regret," the council said in a statement. The move will "tarnish Hong Kong's image as an inter-national [financial center] and also hurt its exchanges with Taiwan," it said. However, the council added that 13 other lawmakers, including four from the DPP, were issued visas and attended the National Day receptions yesterday.
Diplomacy: Honduran leader to visit
Honduran President Ricardo Maduro said on Wednesday that he will seek about US$400 million in aid from Taiwan when he visits Taipei next week. Madura said the aid would go to finance forestry, education and irrigation projects. During his visit from Oct. 19 to 26, Madura said he will meet with government leaders. He will be accompanied by a delegation of industrialists and government officials. Before flying to Taiwan, Madura is to stop in Germany to participate in the Day of the Americas with other Central American leaders. He said he plans to use that trip to bring the low price of coffee to the world's attention.
International aid: Grenada given relief funds
The Taiwan government donated US$100,000 to Grenada Wednesday as relief for victims of Tropical Storm Lili, officials of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Lili, which swept through Caribbean countries last month, caused heavy losses. Allan Jiang Li-shang (姜禮尚), Taiwan's ambassador to Grenada, made the donation on behalf of the government, with Grenada's Foreign Minister, Elvin Nimrod, accepting the funds. In the ceremony held at Grenada's Foreign Ministry, the Taiwanese ambassador also donated another US$60,000 to the Grenada government for the purchase of computer equipment.
Education: Taiwan scores high
An education official yesterday quoted statistics from the US that show Taiwan has the sixth-largest percentage of college students majoring in science and engineering, which he said will help upgrade the nation's competitiveness. The Ministry of Education recently published an August report by the Houston Chronicle newspaper that quoted statistics compiled by the US National Science Foundation showing that in terms of the percentage of 24-year-old college graduates in science and engineering, Taiwan ranks sixth, far ahead of the US in 14th place and China in 19th position. According to the statistics, the top five countries in terms of the ratio of science and engineering majors are Great Britain, Finland, South Korea, France and Japan.
Transportation: Tunnel collapse snarls traffic
Traffic between Suao, Ilan, and Hualien was disrupted after a tunnel in the Tachingshui section of the Su-Hua Highway (蘇花公路)caved in early yesterday morning due to heavy rain. Construction workers and heavy equipment arrived shortly afterward, but the resumption of traffic on the highway is not expected to resume until tomorrow afternoon. Road construction authorities urged drivers not to avoid the area. This the second time in three months that the 52m-long tunnel has been cut off by a cave-in. In August the tunnel was cut in two by a serious rock fall.
RSS