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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Weather
Temperatures plunging
The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued a low-temperature alert yesterday as a cold front began to increase in intensity. According to the bureau, low-temperatures will last from today until Tuesday. The bureau forecast that temperatures are likely to drop to 8℃ today and cautioned people living north of Tainan, in northeastern coastal areas and in Kinmen and Matsu to expect cold weather. Shipping was warned of possible strong winds. The cold front began affecting temperatures yesterday morning. Tamsui, for example, hit 12.3℃ while the temperature in Taichung dropped to 15.7℃.

■ Road safety
More motorcyclists killed
As many as 67.9 percent of people killed in traffic accidents in Taipei last year were motorcyclists, up 19.2 percent from 48.7 percent in the previous year, according to figures released yesterday by the city's transportation bureau. Of the motorcyclists who died in traffic accidents, 70.2 percent were under 30 years of age, bureau officials said. They said a total of 88 major traffic accidents were recorded in the city last year, leaving 81 people dead and seven seriously injured. The figures compare with 92 major traffic accidents in 2005, which left 84 people dead and 13 seriously injured, they said. They said more than 90 percent of the accidents were the result of traffic violations, such as speeding, running red lights and drunk driving, adding that the bureau will step up its crackdown on traffic violations to reduce the city's traffic accident death rate.

■ Health
Blood bank calls for donors
The Taipei Blood Center has issued an appeal to the public to roll up their sleeves and give generously as the city's blood supplies are worryingly low. "Taipei typically uses 1,600 bags of blood a day, and we need to have a seven-day supply on hand as a cushion," said Lai Chao-hung (賴肇鴻), the director of the examination division at the Chinese Blood Donation Foundation. "However, our stock is now down to 4,000 bags." Lai said that the shortage of type A blood was especially acute, with only 800 bags or a half day's supply left. "The cold weather discourages people from leaving their homes to donate blood," he said, "but we're hoping that media appeals will let people know their help is urgently needed." Foreign nationals are welcome, he said, reminding potential non-Taiwanese donors to bring their passports to blood donation stations if they want to give blood.

■ Politics
Hau finalizes appointments
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) completed his search for top-level administrative officials as he announced the last four members of his mayoral team yesterday. They are the director of the city's finance department, Lin Chien-yuan (林建元), the head of Taipei Feitsui Reservoir Administration, Lee Kun-cher (李公哲), commissioner of the law and regulation commission, Yeh Chin-yuan, (葉慶元) and the director of Taipei Public Service Institute Liu Pao-kuei (劉寶貴). Although all of Hau's 31 officials have been confirmed, five -- including Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Yung-ping (李永萍), the new cultural affairs department director and new deputy mayor Lin Chun-yi (林崇一) -- will not take office until next month due existing work commitments. In response to concerns about the their absence, Hau said that many officials need time to honor commitments before taking up their new jobs.

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