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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ WEATHER

Cold front hits nation

Temperatures were expected to plummet last night as the season's first cold front swept across the nation, the Central Weather Bureau reported yesterday. The cold front arriving from northern China was expected to hit last night and will linger for about three days before leaving on Thursday, with lows reaching 7oC in open, coastal areas of central and northeastern parts of the nation, the bureau said. Meteorologists called on the public to watch out for sudden temperature changes and advised farmers and fishermen to take protective measures to care for their crops. Temperatures dropped to 12.6oC in Tamsui yesterday morning. During the daytime, temperatures are expected to reach 18oC in the north and 20oC in central and southern areas. Lows for central and northern regions are expected to remain under 10oC until Jan. 3, the bureau said.



■ POLITICS

Su denies DPP tensions

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday dismissed speculation that there was tension between him and presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷). Su said that he, Hsieh and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) enjoyed an appropriate division of labor and were all dedicated to campaigning for the upcoming elections. While Hsieh is busy promoting policies, Su said, he would spend more time campaigning for the party's legislative candidates. If there is any lapse in communication or delegation of duty, they are more than happy to examine it and make adjustments accordingly, he said. Su spent yesterday campaigning in Pingtung County and City, while Hsieh was campaigning in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan. Chen was in Taichung and Pingtung.



■ Diplomacy

AIT offices closed

The offices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) will be closed tomorrow in observance of New Year's Day. The closure includes the Consular Section, the Commercial Section, the Agricultural Trade Office, the American Cultural Center and the AIT Kaohsiung branch office. All offices will re-open on Jan. 2 and resume operations as normal.



■ SOCIETY

Wu condition improving

First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) remained hospitalized, but her condition was improving following treatment, National Taiwan University (NTU) hospital sources said. NTU hospital spokesman Tan Ching-ting (譚慶鼎) and Wong Chao-wen (翁昭旼), a member of Wu's medical team, spoke to the media yesterday at around noon to provide an update on the first lady's condition. Wu was hospitalized at 6:10pm on Saturday after a cold developed into a minor lung inflammation. At the time of her admission, Wu had been running a high fever for four days. At its peak, Wu's temperature reached 39.2oC, but after treatment it came down to about 38oC, Tan said. Tests showed that her white blood-cell count was too high and that she was suffering from an electrolyte imbalance and low blood pressure. "Despite the fact that she is doing better ... we still cannot predict when she will be ready to leave hospital," Wong said.
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