■ INTERNET
Emoticon lovers compete
Symantec Corp, a global leader in Internet security software, is holding a global photo competition until Oct. 15 to find the best facial expressions imitating emoticons, the Internet representations of human emotions. Prizes include US$10,000 in cash, an event organizer said yesterday. The contest, called "the Norton 360 emoticon look-alike competition," invites Internet users to find photos of the best imitations of emoticons -- including anger, wink, smile, panic or tongue sticking out -- and to upload them to the Web site. Contestants will be eligible for US$10,000 or one of five prizes of US$1,000.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIRK DIESTEL
■ SOCIETY
Volunteers honored
The China American Petrochemical Corporation (CAPCO), David Dea, and Gray Gleason were honored by the Community Service Center on Saturday at a fundraising event for their community service. CAPCO was recognized for its staff members' work on wildlife preservation and for its considerable donations to various charities. Dea, a recipient of the individual award, was recognized for his efforts as a youth mentor for foreigners and for helping the center raise more than NT$12 million as an auctioneer over a period of six years. Gleason also received an individual award for his advocacy of international NGOs in Taipei and for serving on a radio show for migrant workers. Pictured, from left: David Dea, CAPCO representative T.F. Chao and "Tito" Gray Gleason.
■ EDUCATION
Academics meet in Europe
Young Europe-based Taiwanese academics in the humanities and social sciences convened their first annual assembly in Leuven, Belgium, on Saturday to promote academic exchanges, an event organizer said yesterday. The one-and-half day conference was organized by Taiwanese doctoral students at Leiden University in the Netherlands and sponsored by Taiwanese students at the University of Leuven to provide a platform for Taiwanese academics in Europe to present their work and increase cooperation between Taiwan and the EU, the organizer said. A number of young Taiwanese academics pursuing their doctoral degrees from universities in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Germany and Sweden participated. Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) attended on behalf of the government.
■ DIPLOMACY
Panama thanks Taiwan
Panamanian first lady Vivian Fernandez expressed gratitude on behalf of her husband, President Martin Torrijos, at a ceremony on Thursday for Taiwan's donations to her country and its assistance in building houses and schools and providing medical aid. Taiwanese Ambassador to Panama Hou Ping-fu (侯平福) said Taiwan built 30 bamboo houses last year in Panama's Ngobe Bugle area for indigenous people. The houses proved very popular, Hou said, adding that Taiwan would build 300 more this year and 300 next year. Some farmers have decided to grow bamboo to use as building materials, Hou said. Hou said Taiwan would also build 90 schools in villages.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
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