■ HEALTH
Enteroviruses top bug list
Enteroviruses topped the list of infectious diseases affecting Taipei school campuses last year, with 2,010 cases reported, Taipei City health officials said yesterday. Enteroviruses are spread by direct contact with secretions from an infected person or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Infected persons usually develop either a flu-like illness with a fever and muscle aches or a rash. Health authorities advise students to wash their hands, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to avoid infectious illnesses.
■ HEALTH
Cards contain carcinogen
Excessive levels of the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde were found in 47 percent of playing cards surveyed recently, the Consumers' Foundation officials said yesterday. Of a total of 55 playing cards sampled, 26 were found to contain formaldehyde residue ranging from between 122.7 parts per million (ppm) to 1,691 ppm, much higher than the limit of 75 ppm set by the government for the chemical, the officials said. Sixteen, or 61.5 percent, of the substandard products were made in China, they said. Formaldehyde is widely used as an industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant. It has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a carcinogen. In light of the popularity of card games during the Lunar New Year holiday, officials urged consumers to avoid using cards that have a pungent smell because they are likely to contain formaldehyde.
■ POLITICS
Chen visits islet
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday visited Hsiaochiu (小坵), a small islet off the Matsu Islands, to review military forces stationed there. It was the first time Chen had set foot on the islet on his third visit to the Wuchiu (烏坵) chain. Chen, who arrived by helicopter, attended the inauguration of a parking apron in Hsiaochu. He also handed out red envelopes to troops and residents. Chen visited the disputed Spratly Islands (南沙群島) on Saturday, inspecting a recently completed airstrip.
■ POLITICS
No tax decision yet
Amid speculation that the government is considering adjusting business and income taxes, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said he would not make a final decision until after the Lunar New Year holiday. Chang said that the government began mapping out a comprehensive taxation reform plan in August as the Statute for Upgrading Industries (促進產業升級條例) will expire next year. The Ministry of Finance is working on two proposals to adjust business tax and income tax returns. Chang rejected speculation that the measure was politically motivated. Chang said the taxation reform package was aimed at building a sustainable economy and fair society, not at boosting his party's chances in next month's presidential election.
■ DIPLOMACY
Minister cancels trip
Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) has decided to cancel a trip to Paraguay because of the "disclosure" of his itinerary by the media, a ministry official said yesterday. Liu Ching-jen (劉慶仁), director of the Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, said that Tu was scheduled to leave today for a 15-day visit to Paraguay but called off the trip because "some important details of his itinerary" had been leaked.
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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