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Taiwan News Quick Take

■WEATHER

Low-pressure system lurks

A tropical low-pressure system that has been lurking far off the southeastern coast since Sunday could increase in intensity to become a tropical storm, the Central Weather Bureau reported yesterday. It remained to be seen whether the system — if it developed into a mild storm — would directly affect Taiwan in the next few days, forecasters said. The bureau said it would begin to rain from today as the outer rim of the system nears.



■SOCIETY

Croc doc returns to work

One year and three months after having his arm bitten off by a crocodile, Chang Po-yu (張博宇) returned to his post as a veterinarian at Kaohsiung City’s Shoushan Zoo yesterday. As his arm has been reattached, Chang can now drive a car again, but his fingers are not very nimble and will need further treatment. Chang had his arm bitten off last April after mistakenly thinking a crocodile was sedated after shooting it with an antibiotic needle instead of a tranquilizer. Chang said he feels lucky and grateful to still have his arm after police shot the crocodile to get it to release his arm. Chang said he was nervous about seeing so many members of the media at his workplace, but said that he was very happy about being able to return to work.



■ENVIRONMENT

Mayor declares ‘cycling day’

The mayor of Tainan City instructed the city government yesterday to make arrangements for the launch of a weekly “cycling day,” during which the city’s civil servants will be encouraged to ride to work. Tainan City Mayor Hsu Tian-tsair (許添財) said that “public functionaries should take the lead and set an example for all city residents in an effort to save energy and cut carbon dioxide emissions. On the weekly cycling day, nobody occupying a public office in Tainan City should consume a single drop of gasoline, not even through car-pooling,” Hsu said. “The air quality in Tainan City would improve significantly and more energy would be saved after the ‘cycling day’ program is launched,” he said.



■POLITICS

Court rejects Chen appeal

The Taiwan High Court yesterday turned down an appeal by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) asking it to order the Taipei District Court to return documents concerning national secrets. Chen’s office yesterday evening issued a press statement saying the high court decision was unreasonable and unconstitutional and Chen would appeal the decision again soon after discussing it with his lawyers. The documents are related to the Taipei District Court case in which Chen’s wife Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) stands accused of corruption and forgery related to the “state affairs fund.” Chen had claimed that the documents the district court held concerning national secrets should be returned to the Presidential Office.



■EDUCATION

UA, NCKU to cooperate

Tainan City’s National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has signed an agreement with the University of Alaska System (UA System) on establishing joint courses and other academic cooperation, a Cheng Kung spokesman said yesterday. The agreement was inked by NCKU president Lai Ming-chiao (賴明詔) and UA System president Mark Hamilton in Tainan on Friday, the spokesman said. Under the terms of the agreement, the two schools will offer joint courses and exchange teaching personnel, staff and students. The schools will issue diplomas recognized by both sides, the spokesman said.


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