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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Singapore sends documents

Singapore prosecutors sent documents related to the Papua New Guinea fund scandal, in which Taiwan was allegedly defrauded of US$30 million in foreign aid funds by two middlemen, to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office after prosecutor Huang Mo-hsin (黃謀信) went to Singapore on May 13 to seek help on the case. In 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wired US$30 million to an account in Singapore jointly held by two brokers, Ching Chi-ju (金紀玖) and Wu Shih-tsai (吳思財), a Singaporean national. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday refused to reveal whether the documents from Singapore were related to details of the account. Ching presented an eight-page statement and a 110-page paper detailing how the money was used to prosecutors, saying he was not guilty and that no public officials had received kickbacks.



■ SOCIETY

Souvenir hunt launched

In a bid to highlight the distinctive features of the country’s capital, the Taipei City Government launched a campaign yesterday to search for souvenirs that best represent Taipei. “Every product has to have a story that is related to Taipei. In addition to representing the city’s character, the products also need to be commercially competitive, easy to carry, environmental friendly and healthy,” Liu Chug-chun (劉佳鈞), chief manager of the Taipei City Office of Commerce, said at a news conference. The closing date for submissions is July 10. Individuals and shops can make recommendations or register to join the first stage of selection, after which Taipei City residents will be asked to vote on the shortlisted products. Persons wishing to make souvenir recommendations can log on to the Web site www.taipeigift.com.tw.



■ EDUCATION

Students win Web award

A group of students from Mingde Elementary School have won an honorable mention award in the “12 and under” category of the ThinkQuest international Web site-building competition, the Taipei City Education Department said yesterday. The fifth-grade students and their coach won the award for their “Dragons in Chinese Culture” Web site. The ThinkQuest competition, which has been held since 1996, is organized by the Oracle Education Foundation — a charitable organization funded by Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software company. The competition is aimed at inspiring students to cooperate in creating innovative and educational Web sites to share with the world, the organizer says. The students won a laptop computer and US$1,000 cash for their school.



■ TRANSPORTATION

Kaohsiung touts bicycles

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) vowed yesterday to make the city cyclist-friendly as surging oil prices help increase the popularity of cycling. Chen made the promise during an interpellation session at the Kaohsiung City Council after People First Party Councilor Wu Yi-cheng (吳益政) asked her to improve the environment for cyclists. Wu, who advocates the integration of the mass rapid transit system and cycling, stressed the importance of combining the two modes of transportation in an era of high fuel prices, expressing hope that Kaohsiung City — long notorious for its heavy pollution from industry — could become the most cyclist-friendly city in Asia. Wu said there were still many impediments to people who wish to cycle in the city, including interruptions along bike paths because of heavy traffic, as well as a lack of parking areas for bicycles.


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