Vice President Annette Lu (
Lu presented the money to Paraguayan Ambassador Ramon Diaz Pereira at a news conference, dubbed "Taiwan Heart, World Love."
The money was jointly donated by several private groups, Lu said, adding that the donation epitomizes Taiwanese people's love and concern for the victims of the fire in Paraguay.
A fire swept through a busy shopping center on the outskirts of Asuncion, Paraguay's capital, at midday on Aug. 1, killing 380 shoppers.
A prosecutor in Asuncion told reporters on Tuesday that investigations show that grease and charcoal buildup in a chimney ignited when cooks were preparing meat at high temperatures on a grill in a restaurant in the shopping area.
Lu also urged local people to support a program she started several years ago to aid impoverished children at home and abroad.
Under the program, Lu said, private groups and individuals have sponsored 500 children from poor families in Paraguay, the nation's sole diplomatic ally in South America.
Lu said she hopes more people can help to sponsor children from poor families in Taiwan and in the country's diplomatic allies.
"Through this sponsorship program, we can disseminate our love abroad," Lu said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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