■ Politics
Lee has back problems
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) recently canceled many of his public activities because he has been suffering from a spinal bone spur, which prevents him from standing for long periods of time, Hwang Kun-hu (黃崑虎), the president of the Friends of Lee Teng-hui association said Saturday. Lee was absent yesterday from a Lee Teng-hui School class held in Taoyuan County, for which Lee was scheduled to have been the lecturer. Hwang said that Lee called him on Thursday and revealed his bone spur affliction which has bothered him for weeks. Because of his age of 82, Lee cannot risk surgery to remove the bone spur, so for the time being Lee is undergoing rehabilitation and wearing a magnetic back support, Hwang said.
■ Environment
Rare birds still alive
Collaboration between local government and bird conservationists in the outlying Matsu areas has ensured the survival of rare birds, including the endangered Chinese crested tern. Rob Butler, a research scientist with the Canadian government yesterday observed birds and coastal environment in Matsu under the company of Taiwanes bird conservationist Simon Liao (廖世卿), independent Legislator Yang Chung-jse (楊宗哲), and Chang Show-hwa (張壽華), the chief of the Matsu Construction Bureau. They observed, distantly, about 200 bridled tern, 50 greater crested tern and one Chinese crested tern on or near nearby islets. "We are happy about the survival of such birds, especially after the passage of recent typhoons," Chang said. The Chinese crested tern has always been rare and little known since the discovery of 1863.
■ Diplomacy
Berger arrives for visit
Taiwan yesterday welcomed Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, saying his five-day state visit would help to further cement ties and enhance bilateral cooperation. Berger, who arrived in Taipei Saturday night to attend Sunday's inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU) set up by Taiwan, was honored in a welcoming ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park in Taipei. Top Taiwanese officials, including President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), as well as foreign envoys attended the welcoming ceremony.
■ Environment
Violators fined for bad air
One third of construction sites inspected by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) last month failed to meet criteria that ensure good air quality. Violators have been fined between NT$100,000 and NT$1 million for poor management. Last month, the EPA investigated 15 large construction sites in central Taiwan. Environmental inspectors found that five construction sites had caused serious air pollution involving the spread of suspended particles, or dust. Meanwhile, others caused minor problems regarding air quality. Companies managing such poorly-designed construction sites have been fined between NT$100,000 and NT$1 million. Officials said only three construction sites meet the criteria. The result shows that less than 20 percent of construction sites inspected meet criteria. EPA officials said that common problems leading to the spread of dusts are about uncovered materiel and supplies, the lack of car-washing facilities, poorly-designed routes for trucks, and others.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS