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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ HEALTH

Alarms urged for eateries

The Consumer's Foundation yesterday urged hotpot and barbecue restaurants to install carbon monoxide detector alarms and good ventilation systems, adding that the establishments should check their natural gas equipment and pipelines for safety compliance at least every two years. Following an incident on Friday when 26 people in Taoyuan were poisoned by carbon monoxide at a hotpot eatery, the foundation randomly surveyed a barbecue and hotpot restaurant in Taipei and found that just with the barbecue fire ignited, the carbon monoxide density near the stovetop was 1291 ppm. The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection said exposure to carbon monoxide with a density of over 1,200ppm could cause an increased heart rate and arrhythmia. A density of over 2,000ppm would cause unconsciousness or death and a density of over 5,000ppm would kill a person in a matter of a few minutes, the bureau said.



■ TRAVEL

Government issues warnings

The Bureau of Consular Affairs yesterday advised the public to avoid traveling to South Africa on their own because of the worsening public disorder. The bureau issued the warning on its official Web site following a recent incident in which two Taiwanese backpackers were robbed in downtown Johannesburg. The bureau also advised people who join a package tour to South Africa to follow their groups closely and avoid going anywhere alone while in Johannesburg. The bureau also urged the public to postpone any plans to travel to East Timor. If such a trip cannot be avoided travelers should keep track of the latest developments in the country and refrain from taking part in any public assemblies or going to any dangerous areas while in the country, the bureau said.



■ CRIME

Taiwanese in Illinois safe

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed that none of the 30 Taiwanese students and 10 Taiwanese professors at Northern Illinois University were injured in the shooting on Thursday when a student fatally shot five people before turning the gun on himself. Ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) said the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Chicago contacted the school's Taiwanese Students Association immediately after receiving news of the incident. The vice-president of the association confirmed that all of the Taiwanese students and professors were unharmed.



■ CHARITY

Celebrity items auctioned

With auction items donated by entertainment celebrities, an online charity auction organized by the Chinatrust Charity Foundation will begin at 10am tomorrow to raise funds for disadvantaged children. Among the 40 items donated by 17 celebrities for auction are 15 autographed limited edition posters and calligraphy from Aska Yang (楊宗緯), a costume from the movie The Most Distant Course donated by actress Guey Lun-mei (桂綸鎂) and a red dress that popular singer Elva Hsiao (蕭亞軒) wore in a music video. The auction will continue for four days, ending at 12pm on Friday. The funds raised through the auction will be allocated to the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, the Syinlu Welfare Foundation and the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation to help children in need. More information can be found on the event's Web site at www.bizdev-chinatrustorg.dc.com.tw/auction.
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