■Politics
DPP plans group hike
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will lead a group of DPP lawmakers and government officials on a hike tomorrow, the local media reported yesterday. Some 100 high-level officials and lawmakers will take part in the walk along a stretch of an old track from Chinshan, Taipei County, to Yangmingshan National Park. Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and Premier Yu Shyi-kun will be among the hikers. According to Yu, the aim of the hike is to improve the ties between the party lawmakers and government officials. Noting that the track was used in the past by Chinshan fish vendors to transport their catches to Taipei, Yu said that the hike will also highlight the ruling team's emphasis on local culture and history.
■ Diplomacy
Delegation attends breakfast
A delegation headed by DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) attended the 51st US National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday. Members of the delegation included Cabinet Secretary-General Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) and several national policy advisers, lawmakers and academics. US President George W. Bush, senior US officials and congressional members as well as diplomats and religious leaders from major countries also attended the annual religious gathering. In addition to attending the prayer breakfast, the delegation also met with US officials and influential members of Congress. The delegation will also meet with Chinese community leaders in Washington and Los Angeles to exchange views on matters of mutual concern before returning home on Wednesday.
■ Justice
Slander suit tossed out
A judge yesterday ruled against a doctor who filed a slander lawsuit against a Buddhist nun who heads one of Taiwan's largest charity groups. The obstetrician, Chuang Ru-kuei (莊汝貴), alleged that the nun, Cheng Yen (證嚴), slandered him by telling followers that she was inspired to set up her charity after she saw how one of Chuang's female patients died because she couldn't afford surgery. Cheng's Tzu Chi Foundation (慈濟基金會)frequently told how the woman, who died of complications during childbirth 37 years ago, allegedly left a pool of blood outside the medical clinic. Although the nun never named the doctor, one of her close friends alleged at a Buddhist gathering two years ago that it was Chuang. The plaintiff argued that the woman arrived at the clinic three days after she first went into labor and it was too late for surgery. The Hualien District Court judge ruled that Cheng was innocent because she did not name the obstetrician. The judge also said that Cheng told the story only to highlight the plight of poor women.
■ Diplomacy
Vatican envoy set to arrive
The new Vatican charge d'affaires to Taipei, Ambrose Madtha, will arrive in Taipei tomorrow to assume his post, officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. Madtha will replace James Patrick Green, who is expected to return to the Vatican to help with Pope John Paul's English speeches and documents. Green has been in Taiwan for less than a year and is scheduled to leave Taipei on Feb. 14. Madtha, 48, was born in India and can speak English, German, French, Spanish and Italian fluently. Before his Taipei post, Madtha worked in the Holy See's embassies in El Salvador, Ghana and Albania.
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