CULTURE
Five poisons’ on display
The Taipei Zoo is hosting an exhibition featuring animals traditionally seen as sinister symbols to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, seen as a time when evil spirits are awakened, zoo officials said yesterday. In ancient Chinese culture, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, toads and geckos — known as the “five poisons” — were believed to be evil and their spirits were thought to “possess” unfortunate human beings during the festival. However, staff said the zoo hopes its exhibition, which runs through June 30, can help dispel these myths and raise awareness of animal protection. The exhibition will give the creatures a chance to show their true colors, the zoo said. The exhibit will feature six animals: brown spotted pit vipers, emperor scorpions, Chinese red-headed centipedes, Asian common toads, Tokay geckos and Mexican red knee tarantulas.
HEALTH
DOH certifies food exports
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday began to certify the safety of food products containing starch that are destined for export in an effort to salvage the reputation of Taiwan-made products in the international market. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Kang Jaw-jou (康照洲) said the department will issue certificates for exports that have been deemed as safe for human consumption by recognized testing laboratories. The new measure was taken after a modified starch containing maleic anydride was recently found in several popular Taiwanese food products. The scandal prompted Kuala Lumpur to demand that every shipment of Taiwan-manufactured food products containing starch — such as rice noodles and tapioca balls — exported to Malaysia must carry a DOH-verified safety certificate. Kang said he expects Singapore and other countries will soon impose similar demands.
EARTHQUAKES
Quake costs NT$33.73mn
The strong temblor that struck Taiwan on Sunday has caused an estimated NT$33.73 million (US$1.13 million) worth of damage to 191 schools in central Taiwan, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. As of yesterday morning, 69 schools in Nantou County, 32 in Yunlin County and 27 in Greater Taichung were reported to have sustained damage, the ministry said. Nantou was the most severely affected, with damage estimated at NT$24.26 million, the ministry added. The magnitude 6.3 quake, which hit at 1:43pm, was felt in most parts of the island. The epicenter was located in Nantou’s Renai Township (仁愛) at a depth of 10km, according to the Central Weather Bureau’s Seismology Center. Four people were killed by the quake, the Central Emergency Operations Center said.
DIPLOMACY
Arkansas official arrives
Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr arrived in Taipei yesterday on a week-long visit to promote bilateral ties. Darr is scheduled to meet government officials and visit several facilities around the nation, said Bruce Linghu (令狐榮達), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of North American Affairs. Darr’s arrival marks the 30th anniversary of the sisterhood relationship between Taiwan and Arkansas, Linghu added. During the trip, Darr will have the chance to learn more about the nation’s foreign affairs, defense, education and the development of cross-strait relations, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark. Tsai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday night, but did not speak to reporters before departing. Tsai wrote on social media later that the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm the commitment of Taiwanese to working with democratic allies to promote regional security and stability, upholding freedom and democracy, and defending their homeland. She also expressed hope that through joint efforts, Taiwan and Europe would continue to be partners building up economic resilience on the global stage. The former president was to first
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
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