■ Politics
Chen lists DPP's goals
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) presented three directions of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) efforts yesterday and encouraged the party and the people of Taiwan to continue to fight for the country's democratization. Speaking at the weekly meeting of the DPP Central Standing Committee in his capacity as party chairman, Chen listed the three goals as democratic reform, economic prosperity and "believe in Taiwan." He said that holding a referendum is the last step in Taiwan's democratization program and will also represent a new chapter in the nation's history. Referring to economic prosperity, Chen said there are many indications that the economy is undergoing a strong recovery and that Taiwan will enjoy excellent records both in economic growth and the labor market. "We insist on democratic reform because we believe in Taiwan," he said. Chen also issued an order to mobilize all DPP members to explain the party's vision for national development to the people.
■ Education
Bursary project needs help
World Vision Taiwan (台灣世界展望會) is urging the public to donate money for young students who cannot pay their tuition fees. The organization is also cooperating with publisher Commercial Press during this year's Taipei International Book Exhibition. Commercial Press will donate 10 percent of the income raised from sales at the exhibition of the book How to Read a Book (如何閱讀一本書) to World Vision Taiwan's tuition fee project. The organization is giving every sponsored high school student NT$5,000 and every college student NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 next term, starting in February, to help pay their tuition fees. Those who want to make a donation can call 02-25856300 or wire the money directly into the organization's post office account, 01022760, and specify that the money should go to the schooling project.
■ Biology
University wants whale
Professors, students and volunteers from the National Cheng Kung University's Department of Biology yesterday said that they hoped to have a whale specimen at the university within a week. A whale, weighing 60 tonnes and 17m in length, was found dead on the seashore of Yunlin County on Sunday. More than 20 workers yesterday used small electronic saws to try to remove the whale's skin, but the saws became stuck because the skin was too thick. Professor Wang Chien-ping (王建平) said that it would take about a week to finish the preparation of the specimen. Wang said that this specimen would become the biggest whale specimen in Taiwan when the job is done.
■ Water
Conservation effort to start
Water supplies to certain heavy users in the greater Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu areas will be restricted soon due to insufficient rainfall, Chen Sheng-hsien (陳伸賢), an official of the Water Conservancy Agency, said yesterday. Chen said that the imposition of the restrictions was inevitable, and that a task force has been formed to deal with the problems caused by the long drought in the north. Water restrictions to the three areas may begin on Feb. 1, he said. Under the plan, water supply to certain industries in the three areas will be cut by 5 percent, and the supply to public baths, spas, car washes and select heavy users of water will be cut by 20 percent, he said. The restriction plan will ensure sufficient supplies of water to every home and office in the north until early May, when the monsoon season will begin, he said.
The US House of Representatives yesterday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which stipulates that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican US Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude China from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China
Garbage and recycling schedules are to vary from Saturday through Sunday next week over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The following collection information is from the governments of the six special municipalities. Taipei Regular service: Sunday to Monday next week. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Extra service: Friday next week. Regular service resumes: Saturday next week. New Taipei City Extra service: Sunday. Adjusted collection time: Monday next week — garbage collection is to begin in the morning and end at 6pm. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Regular service resumes: Friday next week. Note: Garbage can be dropped off at 70
A KFC branch in Kaohsiung may be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million (US$1,907 and US$6.37 million), after a customer yesterday found an entire AAA battery inside an egg tart, the Kaohsiung Department of Health said today. The customer was about to microwave a box of egg tarts they had bought at the fast-food restaurant’s Nanzih (楠梓) branch when they checked the bottom and saw a dark shadow inside one of them, they said in a Threads post. The customer filmed themself taking the egg tart apart to reveal an entire AAA battery inside, which apparently showed signs of damage. Surveillance footage showed
GROUP EFFORT: The number of inbound travelers rose 11 to 12 percent last month, with a significant increase in tourists from Europe and North America, an official said The government aims to attract 9.4 million visitors this year, the Tourism Administration said yesterday, citing last year’s success in diversifying tourist markets. Taiwan last year drew about 8.57 million international arrivals, 72.3 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. By contrast, the nation had about 18.94 million outbound tourists last year, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 level of 17.1 million. The estimated tourism revenue deficit was about NT$700.9 billion (US$22.22 billion). Taoyuan International Airport Corp expects more than 160,000 passengers to pass through the nation’s largest airport daily during the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on Saturday. As of Jan. 30, the nation’s average hotel occupancy rate
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