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NSC International Cooperation Sci-Tech Newsbrief
2008 NO.11/12
Published jointly by Department of International Cooperation and
Seience and Technology Divisions of Representative Office of R.O.C.,
National Science Council of the Executive Yuan, R.O.C.
Edited by The Central News Agency
December 31, 2008
http://stn.nsc.gov.tw/files/stn_files/09712/%E5%9C%8B%E7%A7%91%E6%9C%839712(%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87).pdf
Taiwan News Quick Take
STAFF WRITER, WITH AGENCIES
Friday, Dec 19, 2008, Page 3
■ DEFENSE
Chopper fleet grounded
The military yesterday said it had grounded its fleet of US-built CH-47 helicopters for a safety check after one crash-landed, injuring five people on board, the Ministry of National Defense said. The helicopter was on a routine training mission when one of its two engines reportedly developed mechanical problems, the ministry said in a statement. The plane crashed in Chungliao (中寮), a remote township in Kaohsiung County, at around 10am, it said. All five people, including a military officer, two pilots and two technicians, incurred minor injuries. The military ordered that another eight such helicopters be grounded for safety checks. The military has organized a contingency group to investigate the accident.
■ WEATHER
Cold front on the way
Partly cloudy skies are expected through Sunday, when a cold front is forecast to arrive from the north, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. The cold front is expected to arrive by Monday and affect the whole country. Chances of rain are high in the northern and northeastern regions for Monday and Tuesday. The bureau said warm temperatures were expected this weekend before the cold front hits. Temperatures in the north could reach 26ºC, and in the south could top 30ºC. For today, the bureau forecast highs of 24ºC in the north, 26ºC in central Taiwan and the south and 23ºC in the east.
■ CULTURE
Flower festival opens
The Taipei Flower Festival will begin at Da-an Park on Sunday. The festival, which lasts until Jan. 18, will feature 330,000 plants and flowers and 14 display areas. The theme for the festival will be the Year of the Cow, Taipei City’s Parks and Street Lights Office said. An opening ceremony will be held at 10am at the park. Visitors will find music performances and handicraft markets at the festival on weekends. They will also have the opportunity to win gifts by participating in various activities, the office said.
■ ENVIRONMENT
Kaohsiung tests buses
Kaohsiung City has launched a test run of two hybrid buses that run on hydrogen and gasoline to determine whether the hybrid technology could help reduce fuel costs, city officials said yesterday. Kaohsiung is the country’s first city to test the hybrid bus, said Wang Kwo- tsai (王國材), director-general of the city’s transportation bureau. If the six-month test run produces satisfactory results, all of the city’s 440 public buses will use the hybrid system, Kwo said. The technology uses a catalyst to break down water into hydrogen and oxide. While the hydrogen is used to power the car, the oxide is used to amplify the combustion effect, the Web site of the company that produced the technology says. For each bus, 2,500 liters of diesel fuel can be saved every year — representing a NT$50,000 reduction in annual fuel expenditures. Carbon emissions are expected to be reduced 6.7 tonnes per bus per year with the new technology, the city government said. Switching all buses to hybrid fuel would help the city reduce its annual fuel costs by NT$22 million and its emissions by 2, 948 tonnes, Wang said.
■ CRIME
Man lets cat out of the bag
A peeping Tom who complained to his neighbor that her breasts were too small after watching her change clothes has been indicted, the United Daily News said yesterday. Police alleged that the man had spied for two years on his 30-year-old neighbor, who lived in an apartment 5m from his balcony. Police said that on July 29, he stole a letter from her mailbox, opened it and wrote on the back: “You are very graceful when you take off your clothes, but your breasts are too small. I hope you can wear less or wear nothing at all when you are at home. I have been watching you for a long time, so you don’t need to be shy.” Liao wrote down his mobile phone number, hoping Liu would contact him, and sent her an erotic book, the report said. She contacted police, but he argued that he had not broken the law because he had not used binoculars to watch her. Because he did not use any equipment to spy on his neighbor, a prosecutor on Wednesday indicted him on charges of violating her privacy by opening her letter.
■ DIPLOMACY
MOFA keeps Caracas office
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it does not plan to close down its Caracas office in the near future despite Venezuela’s unfriendliness toward Taiwan. Since March last year, Venezuela has discontinued issuing tourist visas to Taiwanese nationals. It was reported that the administration of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had tried to shut down Taiwan’s representative office as a gesture to curry favor with Beijing. Currently, the office is headed by a secretary-general and all Taiwanese foreign services personnel are only granted short-term renewable visas.
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http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/19/2003431501
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