■ Politics
Hsieh's bid `no secret'
A group of Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers close to former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday that Hsieh's intention to run in the 2008 presidential election was an open secret. The lawmakers made the remarks following reports in yesterday's evening newspapers that said Hsieh had declared that he would run in the election. The reports said that Hsieh revealed his intentions when talking with Japanese correspondents in Taiwan on Wednesday. "Hsieh had discussed his willingness [to run for president] with certain lawmakers, and we all encouraged him to do so," said Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅), convener of the Welfare State Alliance, a DPP faction.
■ Education
MOE denies underinvesting
The Ministry of Education yesterday dismissed as "mistaken" a local media report which claims that the government is investing too little in education. Deputy Minister of Education Wu Tsai-shun (吳財順) said the country has increased spending on education every year and that education spending as a percentage of government annual expenditure is also higher than that of Japan, South Korea and the US. Wu pointed out that education spending accounted for 19.76 percent of the government's expenditures in 2002, compared with 10.6 percent in Japan, 12.7 percent in Britain, 15.2 percent in the US and 17 percent in South Korea. In the same year, Taiwan's education spending as a percentage of GDP stood at 4.6 percent, which was also higher than 2 percent in China, 3.5 percent in Japan, 4.2 percent in South Korea, and 4.4 percent in Australia and Germany, Wu noted.
■ Health
More women smoking
While the percentage of adult female smokers has risen to 4.54 percent, the smoking rate among junior high school girls is following closely behind at 3 percent, according to the results of surveys recently released by the Department of Health (DOH). The surveys, conducted by the DOH Bureau of Health Promotion, include one carried out last year among more than 20,000 students from over 200 junior high schools nationwide. The results were made public during an international conference on "women and tobacco hazards prevention" held in Taipei. The survey shows that among junior high students aged between 13 and 15, 5.74 percent are smokers, with the rates standing at approximately 3 percent among girls and 7 percent among boys.
■ Politics
Ma makes dreams come true
What kind of wish would a woman make if Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was the one who could make it come true? In celebration of Women's Day, the Women's Department of the KMT has created a "women's wishing well" on the party's Web site. Women visiting the site are invited to make a wish, with one lucky participant being chosen to have her dream come true -- with Ma's help -- on March 8. So far, more than 400 wishes have been made, including requests for the KMT chairman to help bathe a baby or dance cheek-to-cheek. In response to the promotion, Ma said he would try his best to fulfill the women's dreams. "I have bathed babies in the past. Although it was 20 years ago, I think I can still do it," he said yesterday at Taipei City Hall. The deadline for entries is this Monday. For more information, visit www.kmt.org.tw/event/950301/index.html.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday expressed “shock and regret” over a statement issued by his wife without his consent, and rejected her assertion that his eldest sister, Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), would manage his medical care or act as his spokesperson amid an ongoing embezzlement probe into his foundation. Ma Ying-jeou in a statement said he was shocked by a statement by his wife, Chou Mei-ching (周美青), regarding his affairs. Ma Yi-nan “must not” be in charge of his healthcare and other personal affairs, nor can she be allowed to represent the Ma family, the former president said. He said he was also
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