■ Foreign affairs
Japan releases fishing boat
Japan yesterday released a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew, after detaining the boat early Sunday for allegedly intruding into Japan's exclusive economic zone. The boat was released at 6pm after the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Relations Office in Okinawa agreed to act as a guarantor and pay the Japanese government ¥4.2 million (US$35,600). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday urged Japan to release the boat and its crew unconditionally. MOFA spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) made the request after the Suao-based Tsengjinshun No. 206 was detained by Japanese coast guard patrols for allegedly intruding into Japan's exclusive economic zone southeast of Miyako Island in Okinawa prefecture. Lu said the Tsengjinshun was operating in the overlapping areas of the two countries' 320km exclusive economic zones when it was chased and intercepted by Japanese coast guard patrols.
PHOTO: CHIANG CHI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
■ Foreign affairs
Wang to attend inauguration
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) will attend the presidential inauguration ceremony of Honduras' newly elected president Manuel Zelaya as President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) envoy late this month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) confirmed yesterday. Wang is slated to make a transit stop in Washington en route to Honduras during his trip. While in Washington, Wang said he will visit his old friends in the US Congress. But he said he would not deliver any message on behalf of Chen to the US government.
■ Society
New health site launched
The Taipei City Government's health bureau has established a Web site educating students on personal and social health issues. The site was launched in view of statistics indicating high incidences of teen pregnancy. A survey commissioned by the bureau found that 47.3 percent of adolescents aged between 15 and 19 who engage in sexual conduct don't use birth control, while statistics from the Ministry of the Interior show that the teen pregnancy rate is around ten in 1,000. The Web site used virtual cartoon characters to provide information on issues such as what constitutes healthy interaction between men and women, frequently asked questions about sex, how to use contraception, how to perform breast checks and the correct way to wear bras. The Web site is www.healthcity.net.tw.
■ Society
Youth suicide rate climbs
The number of youths committing suicide has continued to climb over the past decade, and suicide has become the No. 2 cause of death among Taiwanese youth aged 15-24, the National Youth Commission said yesterday. In a white paper on youth policy, the commission cited Department of Health statistics as saying that the top three causes of death among the nation's youth in 2003 were accidents (51.8 percent), suicide (10.7 percent) and malignant tumors (9.28 percent). Tallies released by the Ministry of Education show that a total of 91 youths committed suicide between January and November last year, up by 21 over the figure for the whole of 2004. The suicide rate among Taiwanese youths is 0.61 per ten thousand.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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