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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ Society

CAL helps HIV/AIDS charity

China Airlines (CAL) has donated NT$1 million to a charity organization to help build shelters and provide other services for children suffering from HIV or AIDS, chairman and president Ringo Chao (趙國帥) said yesterday. Chao made the remarks at a donation ceremony at the charity, Harmony Home Association, Taiwan, which was attended by officials from the Department of Health and Taipei City's Department of Social Welfare. Founded in 2003, Harmony is a nonprofit organization aimed at helping people living with HIV or AIDS, providing them with shelter, medical assistance, hospice care, counseling and and training programs. It shelters 26 children suffering from HIV or AIDS, some of whom are orphans, while others have parents in jail. With its donation, CAL became the first company to assist children suffering from the disease in the country. All previous funding came from the government. There are an estimated 15,000 AIDS or HIV patients in Taiwan, including 214 under the age of 18, as of the end of February.



■ Diplomacy

Swaziland to receive 10 cars

The government plans to transfer 10 cars that were originally intended to be donated to the Malawi Army to Swaziland after Lilongwe abruptly severed relations with Taipei two months ago, an African news report said yesterday. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pheobe Yeh (葉非比) confirmed the report, but added that Taiwan had decided to transfer the vehicles, reportedly worth US$362,000, because the cars had not yet been given to the Malawi government. She added that the government would not ask Lilongwe to give back any goods that have already been handed over. Swaziland is one of Taiwan's remaining four allies in Africa, which include Gambia, Burkina Faso and San Tome and Principe.



■ Environment

Polluters to be targeted

Environmental officials in five cities and counties in northern Taiwan will launch simultaneous crackdowns today on polluting vehicles and owners of vehicles using substandard fuel bought from unlicensed gas stations. Roadside vehicle inspections will be carried out at random between today and Aug. 31 in Taipei and in Taipei, Taoyuan and Ilan counties, as well as in Keelung, Taipei City's Bureau of Environmental Protection said. Vehicles spewing out black smoke will be stopped and examined on the spot. If the exhaust emissions exceed the allowed limits, the owner of the vehicle will face a fine of between NT$1,500 and NT$20,000 for violating the Air Pollution Control Act. The fuel being used in a polluting vehicle will also be examined and the owner of a vehicle caught using substandard fuel from an unlicensed filling station could face a fine of NT$5,000 to NT$75,000.