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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ HEALTH

IML picks ‘Taiwan’ theme

Taiwan, which has a long history of participation in activities organized by the IML Walking Association — formerly the International Marching League — was selected as the theme country of this year’s International Blankenberge Two-Day Walk of Flanders, organizers said on Wednesday. The annual event, to be held from May 2 to May 3 in the city of Blankenberge in Belgium, will coincide with a “Walk for Peace” that will be attended by city mayors from around the world, organizers said. Describing Taiwan’s participation in the event as “significant,” the organizers said it “symbolizes a stride forward toward peace across the Taiwan Strait.” The event includes 6km, 14km, 24km and 42km walks and is expected to attract thousands of walkers from around the world. Taiwan’s Hope Foundation will prepare programs to introduce Taiwan that will be screened during the event, and foundation chairwoman Chi Cheng (紀政), a 1968 Olympic bronze medalist, will lead a 150-member Taiwanese delegation.



■ MEDICINE

Twu calls for HIV privacy

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Twu Shiing-jer (?? yesterday called for the nation’s main hospitals to conduct HIV testing anonymously. Saying that there are still 12 cities and counties in the country where hospitals do not conduct anonymous HIV tests, Twu urged the Department of Health to swiftly promote measures that would protect patients’ privacy. Meanwhile, recent statistics showed there were 17,000 HIV-infected patients in the country as of last month. Twu said he suspected the real number could be double that and called for better measures to prevent HIV infection.



■ POLITICS

Commissioner injured

Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was injured by firecrackers yesterday morning while presiding over a ceremony for a local temple god pilgrimage. The accident happened when Su was setting off firecrackers for a ceremony to start a three-day gods pilgrimage in six of the county’s townships. The firecrackers were positioned in the wrong direction and exploded in front of Su, slightly wounding his cheek near his right eye. Su was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The hospital said fortunately Su eye was not injured. Following medical treatment, Su was well enough to carry on with his work schedule later yesterday.



■ CULTURE

Hakka books on display

Working with a museum specializing in collecting Hakka family books in western Fujian Province, China, the Taiwan Hakka Association for Public Affairs has organized a Hakka family book exhibition on display in the Taipei County Hakka Museum in Sansia Township (三峽) from now until next Friday. Huang Tzu-yao (黃子堯), chairman of the Hakka association, said that as western Fujian is seen as the origin of all Hakka, Taiwanese Hakka may find the long-lost history of their ancestors during the exhibition. Items on display include 200-year-old Hakka family books from both Taiwan and China — many of which were hidden in walls of family houses to escape destruction during the Cultural Revolution in China. After Taipei, the exhibition will be held at Chaoyang University of Technology in Taichung from March 29 to April 4, at the Kaohsiung Hakka Museum from April 7 to April 15 and at Miaoli County’s International Cultural and Tourism Bureau from April 18 to April 25.


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