■ HEALTH
Hsinchu tops for exercise
Hsinchu County has the highest percentage of people who regularly exercise in the nation, Hsinchu County Government said yesterday. The results of a Sports Affairs Council survey showed that 85.4 percent of the county’s 500,000 residents exercise regularly, or at least three times a week. Hsinchu County Commissioner Cheng Yung-chin (鄭永金) partly attributed the high percentage to the development of ecological parks in Jhudong (竹東), Sinpu (新埔) and Jhubei (竹北) in recent years. The survey said Taipei and Kaohsiung followed closely behind with 84.9 percent of their populations exercizing regularly. The survey of 25,646 people selected randomly around the nation found that baseball was the leading sport, with 55.1 percent of respondents saying it was their favorite, followed by basketball at 32.7 percent and soccer at 5.2 percent.
■ AVIATION
China Airlines facing fine
The Atomic Energy Council confirmed on Wednesday that it was considering fining China Airlines (CAL) for carrying radioactive cargo without obtaining a government permit. Officials at the council said ground staff at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport became alarmed on Feb. 23 when they detected radioactive material in the cargo of a CAL flight from the US to Singapore via Taiwan. The airport workers found 15 barrels containing Iridium-192 — an isotope of Iridium — and hauled them to a warehouse after labeling them radioactive. Iridium-192 is used as an industrial radioisotope to locate areas of weakness in metal pipes. It is also used in radiation treatment of some cancers and in radiotherapy. The officials said that although the radioactivity of the material was within legally permitted limits, CAL should have applied for permission before carrying the cargo across national borders. The radioactive material was released on Feb. 26 after the council approved CAL’s belated application for a permit to transport it.
■ AGRICULTURE
Rice harvest looking good
This year’s first rice harvest in May is expected to be a good one and rice prices will gradually return to normal, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Wu-hsiung (陳武雄) said yesterday. Chen said the water supply for the spring irrigation of rice paddies was guaranteed, as the Water Resources Agency had made a promise to that effect. In light of a looming water shortage, water supply for agricultural purposes was the focus of the question-and-answer session at the legislature, with lawmakers concerned that the situation could affect the rice harvest. Chen said the council has a reserve of about 300,000 tonnes of rice and will release the state-owned stocks, if necessary, in order to keep the average price below NT$40 per kilogram.
■ EDUCATION
Swiss office planning fairs
The Trade Office of Swiss Industries in Taipei announced yesterday it would hold Swiss Hotel Management School Fairs in Kaohsiung and Taipei this month to provide an opportunity for Taiwanese students to pursue a career in hospitality management. The trade office said it would invite students who wish to study in Swiss hotel management schools to visit the fair either at Kaohsiung’s Grand Han Lai Hotel on March 14 or at Taipei’s Westin Hotel on March 15. The office said the hospitality industry is a US$4 trillion global industry and is the world’s largest employer, hiring one in nine workers.
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