■WEATHER
Sleet falls on Yushan
Sleet fell on Yushan (玉山), the nation’s highest peak yesterday, the Central Weather Bureau said. Sleet is not unusual for Yushan in April, with snow falling on the mountain an average of four days each April, meteorologists said. There are also snowy days on Yushan in May and even into July, they said, adding that it snowed there on July 25, 1974. As of 11am that day, 5.5cm had accumulated on flat ground around the CWB weather station on the 3,952m summit, the forecasters said.
■EDUCATION
Schools to provide G-TELP
Seven universities around the country announced yesterday that they would provide General Test of English Language Proficiency (G-TELP) testing. The universities, including the National University of Tainan and Chinese Culture University, said they would promote the US-based G-TELP system throughout this year. University officials said tests would offer opportunities for students to secure English language proficiency certificates, which would enhance students’ international competitiveness. The G-TELP system originates from a language center at the San Diego State University in California and is aimed at helping non-English speakers obtain a reliable English language evaluation and eliminate possible learning obstacles to improve their language skills, the officials said.
■CRIME
Taiwan, China arrest 1,600
Cooperation between Taiwanese police and their Chinese counterparts has led to the arrest of more than 1,600 alleged swindlers in less than a year, Taiwanese officials said yesterday. A total of 1,663 suspects were arrested between last June and last month as the two sides joined hands in cracking down on Internet and telephone fraud involving criminals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said. In one of the latest cases, 13 suspects were caught in Taiwan and 19 in China for allegedly obtaining NT$500 million (US$16 million ) through telephone scams, the bureau said. The suspects allegedly obtained bank account details by posing on the phone as Chinese police officers and employees at Chinese telecoms firms or prosecutor’s offices. They told the victims their accounts were being used for money laundering or their phone bills were overdue, later using the details to empty bank accounts, the bureau said.
■SOCIETY
Vendor makes ‘Time’ list
A vegetable vendor from Taitung has made this year’s US Time magazine list of the 100 most influential persons in the world based on her philanthropy. Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊) was ranked eighth in the “heroes” category of this year’s TIME 100 list. “Out of her modest living, Chen, 59, has managed to donate nearly NT$10 million [that’s US$320,000] to various causes, including US$32,000 for a children’s fund, US$144,000 to help build a library at a school she attended and another US$32,000 for the local orphanage, where she also gives financial support to three children,” the magazine states. Chen, who did not complete elementary school because of poverty, was quoted as having told local press that “money serves its purpose only when it is used for those who need it.” Last month, Chen was selected by Forbes magazine of the US as one of 48 heroes of philanthropy from Asia.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
A small number of Taiwanese this year lost their citizenship rights after traveling in China and obtaining a one-time Chinese passport to cross the border into Russia, a source said today. The people signed up through Chinese travel agencies for tours of neighboring Russia with companies claiming they could obtain Russian visas and fast-track border clearance, the source said on condition of anonymity. The travelers were actually issued one-time-use Chinese passports, they said. Taiwanese are prohibited from holding a Chinese passport or household registration. If found to have a Chinese ID, they may lose their resident status under Article 9-1
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
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