TOURISM
Raptor-watching tours set
The Tourism Bureau is launching a series of ecotourism events to celebrate the northern migration of raptors over the next few weeks. The bureau said yesterday it would hold guided bird-watching tours in the north coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area on April 19, 20 and 27 and May 4 for those interested in getting a look at gray-faced buzzards and Chinese sparrowhawks. The peak migration season for raptors begins after the spring equinox late this month, when frequent rainfall forces the birds of prey to land or fly low, making it a prime time for watching the birds, the bureau said. The season is likely to continue into May, the Taipei-based Chinese Wild Bird Federation said, adding that Guanyinshan (觀音山) in New Taipei City, Baguashan (八卦山) in Changhua County and Ken-ting (墾丁) in Pingtung County are among the best places to catch a glimpse of the aerial predators.
METEOROLOGY
US weather chief visiting
US National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini is visiting Taiwan from today to Sunday to attend a meteorological meeting in Taipei, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said yesterday. He is set to give a keynote speech — titled “Taking Weather Forecasts to the Next Level: Linking Forecasts to Impact Based Decision Support Services” — at the annual meeting of the Meteorological Society of Taiwan tomorrow. He is also expected to meet with leading figures from Academia Sinica, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Environmental Protection Administration. The AIT said the visit would provide a vital “opportunity for scientific and environmental cooperation ... and contribute to joint efforts to address global climate change.
CHARITY
Rice donated to 17 nations
The nation is to double its contribution to international food aid this year by donating 17,400 tonnes of rice to 17 countries, the Agriculture and Food Agency said. The rice is expected to be shipped by June 30 and it is estimated it could save 5.8 million people from starvation, the agency said. While 5,100 tonnes are being sent to typhoon victims in the Philippines, 3,100 tonnes are for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Another 2,400 tonnes are being shipped to Haitians still recovering from the destructive 2010 earthquake that hit the Caribbean country. The other beneficiaries are Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Turkey, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Tuvalu.
EDUCATION
Innovative course a hit
The term “required course” usually makes college students roll their eyes, but one class at National Chiao Tung University has instead captured the interest of students at the school in Hsinchu City. The class, entitled “Love, Sex and Law,” relates to current events, including an assignment for students to observe a court trial. The students also need to debate issues such as surrogate motherhood and fraudsters using romance as a weapon. The choice of guest lecturers has been no less innovative than the curriculum itself, ranging from lawmakers to a prostitute. The purpose of the course is to instill gender-friendly views and legal common sense via discussion of issues stemming from romantic relationships, said Carol Lin (林志潔), an associate professor. The course is designed to teach students how to avoid “landmines,” such as encroaching on a partner’s privacy and how, after things turn sour, to handle gifts given out in better times, Lin said.
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.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘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
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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