New typhoon categorisation will be introduced this year to enhance people's alertness to stronger typhoons, Hong Kong Observatory Director Lam Chiu-ying says. Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the Government will do its best to restore public confidence in the city's drug-supply system, adding the committee to review its regulation will begin work as soon as possible.

Carroll's forensics team talked up a storm over break, qualifying nine students for individual events nationals - while a freshman won the novice national championship in extemporaneous speaking.

Freshmen Kaitlyn Lamb of Whitehall, Mont., and Sarah Brown of Vancouver, Wash., traveled to Houston to compete in the Novice National Championships reserved for first-year college competitors.

Lamb won first in extemporaneous speaking, while Brown was a close third. Together the two reached quarterfinals of debate, and Brown won fourth in informative speaking. The combined showing was enough to earn Carroll a fifth place sweepstakes award.

"Kaitlyn and Sarah are among the hardest workers we've ever had on the team," said coach Brent Northup. "To see their year end so beautifully was thrilling for all of us. Hearing them speak, it's easy to forget that they were beginners when they arrived at retreat last fall. A lot of the credit goes to assistants Marcus Granger and Amanda Taylor for spurring their growth."

At Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., other members of the team were competing to earn qualifying spots to the National Individual Events Tournament. Every Carroll student at the tournament won a ticket to the championships in Akron, Ohio, on April 4-6.

Freshman Amy Dixon of Billings, Mont., won three spots by winning extemporaneous speaking and prose, while finishing second in informative speaking. Carroll Junior Porsche Erekson of Whitefish, Mont., won two events: communication analysis and persuasion. Junior Kristina Buchan of Idaho Falls, Idaho, won impromptu and was second in extemporaneous speaking.

Freshman Rachael DeMarce of Great Falls, Mont., qualified in three events, placing in informative, communication analysis and impromptu speaking. Palma Tiberi, freshman from Helena, Mont., qualified in dramatic interpretation and prose interpretation.

Lada Bordewick, freshman from Three Forks, Mont., qualified in both extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. Stephani Stalcup of Coos Bay, Ore., qualified in informative speaking.

These seven will join juniors Amy McNulty of Helena and Kirby Brooke of Bozeman, Mont., who had already qualified at-large for nationals in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking respectively.

Carroll College's national individual events squad thus consists of three juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen competing in 17 events. The contingent has a gender bias, Northup says, explaining that Brooke is the only male making the trip to NIET this year.