■Travel
More tourists head to Macau
With the danger of SARS diminishing, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Macau has been increasing since early June, according to statistics released yesterday by the Macao authorities. The statistics show that the daily number of Taiwanese travelers to Macau, excluding those who only made a stopover in Macau en route to China, averaged 55 between June 9 and June 20, an increase of 275 percent over the average for the period between April 30 and June 9, at the height of SARS outbreak Macau authorities said they believe the number of Taiwanese travelers to Macau will increase more quickly in July and August. A total of 1.27 million Taiwan visitors came to Macau last year, averaging 3,480 per day.
■ Typhoons
Forecasters get new gear
Meteorology experts are expected to begin monitoring typhoons this summer with new cutting-edge technology and equipment obtained from the US. Under a typhoon research program financed by the National Science Council, meteorologists are expected to be able to fly aboard a specially designed aircraft near approaching typhoons, where they will shoot an "atmospheric sonde," or "radiosonde" observation gear, into the eye of the typhoon to collect data that will give the scientists vital information about the typhoon, said Wu Chun-chieh (吳俊傑) of National Taiwan University, which is managing the program. The NSC program sent four experts to a hurricane research center under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US at the end of last year for a two-month training session, according to Wu. The program, targeting at understanding the dynamic theory of typhoons, will help improve the accuracy of typhoon and rainfall forecasts and will raise Taiwan's prestige in typhoon research, Wu added.
■ Railways
Electrification project ends
The electrification project for the North-Link Railway between Ilan and Hualien in eastern Taiwan will be completed on Wednesday, an official of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) said yesterday. He said that, after the project is completed, the transportation capacity of the 88km railway will increase by more than 30 percent and the time to travel between Taipei and Hualien by express train will be reduced from three hours to two and a half hours. The electrification project is part of TRA's plan to improve the eastern line. The plan will be completed by the end of next year, he added.
■ Security
Restricted airspace violated
A civilian helicopter flew through restricted airspace near the Presidential Office in the second such incident in four days, officials said yesterday. The Bell helicopter flew through the airspace of the Presidential Office at 4:56pm on Saturday after it took off from Sungshan Airport en route to the southern city of Kaohsiung, television news reports said. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) confirmed the report. "The CAA held two meetings today to investigate the event," a CAA official said, without providing details. A Presidential Office spokesman said: "The Presidential Office took the two events very seriously and asked government agencies to beef up security while looking into the two events." The CAA on Thursday suspended an airport controller after a domestic passenger aircraft flew close to the restricted airspace near the Presidential Office.
Agencies
■Entertainment
TTV selects new anchor
TTV has chosen Berkeley, California native Josi Chow (周季薇) to be its new English-language anchor. The 26-year old Chow will host the Taiwan Outlook English news program weekday mornings from 6am to 6:30am. Chow has a bachelor's degree in economics according to a press release from the station. The release also said that Chow did not study journalism but has been "studying all kinds of English newspapers ... and is working hard to become a professional." According to the press release, Chow said "I'm so nervous and excited."
■ Politics
Hualien race off to start
The KMT will finalize its recommended candidate for the upcoming Hualien County commissioner by-election this week, party officials said yesterday. The issue will be discussed at the Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday, KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) said. Officials from both the KMT and the PFP have said the two parties will field a joint ticket. The KMT is seeking former Cabinet secretary-general Hsieh Shen-shan (謝深山) to run, but a number of other hopefuls are also jockeying for candidacy, including former Hualien County commissioner Wu Kuo-tung (吳國棟) and Liu Chao-eh (劉詔娥), widow of the late commissioner Chang Fu-hsing (張福興). On the PFP's side, Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) has also vowed to run.
■ Environment
Heat wave on the way
Taiwan will have hot weather throughout the week, with temperatures rising as high as 34℃, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday.
Staff writer
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS