■ Entertainment
Drug test results revealed
Entertainer Suzanne Hsiao (蕭淑慎) was found to have used cocaine, while TV show hosts Tuo Tsung-kang (庹宗康) and Chu Chung-heng (屈中恆) and actors Jung Hsiung (戎祥), Hung Chi-te (洪其德) and Chang Li-wei (張立威) were found to have taken marijuana, according to drug test results released by prosecutors yesterday. Prosecutors said they would ask the court to order detention for the six. The drug tests were ordered after police raided a Taipei apartment last month and found a marijuana-growing operation. In related news, prosecutors have asked for a three-year sentence for variety show host Hu Gua (胡瓜), who installed cameras in his residence to cheat people who played mahjong with him.
■ Defense
Amendment moves forward
The National Defense Committee passed a second reading of an amendment to the National Defense Act (國防法) yesterday. The amendment regulates that military personnel will not be allowed to be connected to any form of political activities, including posting political articles on the Internet, participating in political activities and making political comments whether in public or in private, in uniform or out. The amendment still must go to a floor vote.
■ Society
Donations sought for ride
Five physically challenged people are bicycling around Taiwan in an effort to raise money for others with physical disabilities, a Chinese Christian Relief Association (CCRA) official said yesterday. Hsiao Chao-liang (蕭潮樑), Chang Wen-yen (張文彥), Liao Yung-jen (廖永仁), Kuo Hsien-hui (郭憲輝) and Chen Chi-jen (陳麒仁) began their 14-day, 1,500km trip last Saturday. The CCRA yesterday announced an online game to attract donors for the bike tour. The game offers donors a chance to win merchandise ranging from bicycles to Christmas CDs in a lucky draw. Those interested in making a donation can visit the CCRA's Web site at www.1919.org.tw/2006/bike.
■ Crime
Fishy cargo leads to bust
Two men were arrested in Kaohsiung yesterday and 15 blocks of heroin weighing 15kg in total and estimated to have a market value of NT$300 million (US$9.18 million) were seized, police said. The heroin was hidden in 357 boxes of fish imported from Thailand. The two men were arrested when they came to claim the fish from a refrigerated warehouse. Investigators said they were alerted six months ago that drug dealers were trying to bring in heroin from Thailand in boxes of fish.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
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