■ Education
New English test introduced
The National Development Initiatives Institute, a local organization promoting the study of English, presented a new English proficiency test yesterday. Based on the Common European Framework (CEF), a standardized scale of English proficiency, the examination has been tested at some middle and senior high schools, colleges and universities and would be introduced at all schools nationwide, institute officials said yesterday. The "Global English Test" focuses on active communication skills, as well as listening comprehension, they said.
■ Transportation
Fog delays flights
Thick fog at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport delayed more than 30 departing flights yesterday morning, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, an airport official said. The foggy conditions were created by a humid maritime airstream, reducing visibility to less than 200m, according to the Central Weather Bureau. Hundreds of people were stranded at the airport due to the delayed flights to Japan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, an airport official said. Five flights arriving from the US and Europe were diverted to Kaohsiung, the official said.
■ Weather
Cold front on the way
A cold front will approach Taiwan tomorrow, which will bring to an end this week's warm weather, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. The bureau said temperatures in northern and northeastern areas will drop tomorrow because of the influence of a southbound cold front in the region. Chances are high for rain in northern Taiwan this weekend, the bureau said, adding that the weather would improve by Monday.
A Taipei veterinarian is urging pet owners to avoid using insecticides around their homes, as their ingredients can be toxic to pets. Commercial-grade insecticides contain pyrethroids — organic compounds similar to natural pyrethrins, pesticides produced by flowers such as chrysanthemums — in quantities that are harmless to humans, but potentially fatal to cats and dogs, Asian Veterinary Specialist Referral Center veterinarian Chua Man-ling (蔡曼琳) said. Even in small quantities, pyrethroids are hazardous to cats, as they lack the metabolic enzymes needed to process them, Chua said. Cockroach sprays and ant traps are especially dangerous to pets as they contain boric acid, she
People should avoid eating too many zongzi (粽子, glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves), as consuming several in one meal could cause indigestion, bloating, gastric acid reflux, heartburn and other stomach ailments, a doctor said on Saturday. Zongzi is a traditional delicacy for the Dragon Boat Festival, which was on Thursday. Citing a recent case as an example, Cathay General Hospital gastroenterology department head Chu Yu-ming (朱淯銘) said that a 58-year-old taxi driver surnamed Hsiao (蕭) ate meals at irregular hours due to his work and has been taking diabetes medicine for three years. Hsiao recently bought a bag of zongzi and ate
While stereotypically considered a household pest that simply will not die, Hung Ting-yang’s (洪鼎揚) experience with Archimandrita tesselata, commonly called the peppered roach, might change a person’s mind. The peppered roach originates in South America, is omnivorous and, as it is capable of growing to 7cm to 9cm long, is a giant compared with other roaches, which have an average length of about 4cm. The peppered roach goes through six separate chrysalis stages and takes nine months to reach full maturity. Mature roaches have wings, but cannot fly and can only glide. They have an average lifespan of three years. As his
The EU’s list of safe nations to which it would reopen borders next week does not include Taiwan, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said the list has not been finalized and some EU countries have highlighted the importance of “reciprocity.” The provisional list comprises Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and the Vatican, the New York Times reported on Friday. The EU said it would add China, considered one of the “acceptable countries,” if it also opens its borders to EU travelers, the newspaper reported. Backed by
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