Meet Mazi the Savannah and Nix the Bengal. They — and many of their kind — are illegal in New York. At least for now.

Dozens of foreign students at Ming Chuan University (MCU) stayed at the homes of their teachers during the Lunar New Year break, as part of a homestay program.

The National Science Council (NSC) will sponsor a program allowing overseas Taiwanese youth to serve as interns with local companies during the summer.

-Shou University in the southern county of Kaohsiung will set up an international school and begin to enroll foreign students for the 2009 academic year in an effort to nurture international talent and boost the university’s international competitiveness.

National Science Council (NSC) Minister Chen Chien-jen presented the “2007 Taiwan France Science & Technology Awards” to the two laureates at an awarding ceremony held in Paris earlier this week.

There are a number of foreigners in Taiwan who suffer from “hipititis” — they’re terminally cool. When asked about their plans for Chinese New Year, this is what they had to say:

Mother and father rat are devoted parents. Loving their daughter so much, they decided that on this year 2008 of her coming of age, and being so pretty and of such an affable nature, they should do the right thing and find a nice husband to take care of their daughter.

To New Zealanders, Feb. 6 is known as “Waitangi Day.” It commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, on Feb. 6, 1840, by representatives of the Maori people and representatives of the British Crown.

Traditional images of New Zealand emphasize its beautiful natural scenery and productive agricultural sector. At the start of the 21st century, a new generation of New Zealanders is building on these assets—natural and man-made—to create a diversified, sustainable, knowledge-based economy.

According to Chinese legend, Buddha invited all animals of the world for a visit, yet only twelve dignified his request; the rat was the first to appear.