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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Diplomacy
Nicaragua to query funds
Nicaragua will ask Taiwan if it transferred US$1.5 million to former president Arnoldo Aleman, a prosecutor said Tuesday. "We are going to ask Taiwan to clear up these transfers," to Aleman, prosecutor Alberto Novoa said. Aleman, president from 1997 to 2002 and already in prison for corruption, is under investigation on charges he received US$1.5 million through a Panama-based foundation. La Prensa newspaper exposed the funds transfers, based on a report of Panamanian anti-corruption prosecutors, who are investigating Aleman for allegedly laundering money through Panamanian banks. Panamanian prosecutors allege that Aleman received the US$1.5 million from several Taiwanese companies, through an account that the Nicaraguan Democratic Foundation had at a bank in Panama. Aleman and two associates opened the foundation account, according to prosecutors.

■ Diplomacy
Kim hopes ties are boosted
Former South Korean President Kim Young-sam said yesterday that since direct air links between Taiwan and South Korea have been resumed, political, cultural and economic ties should be further developed. Kim said he hopes his visit will contribute to Taiwan's efforts to further integrate into the international community. Kim made the remarks during a courtesy call on Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at Taipei City Hall. Kim said that he shares with Ma a love for jogging, adding that he has been running every day for the past 33 years. Ma introduced Taipei 101 to Kim and offered him a series of books about the city of Taipei.

■ Culture
Gold brick may break record
Taipei County's Gold Ecological Park will display a gold brick weighing 220kg Oct. 28, officials said yesterday. The brick could break the current Guinness record for the heaviest single gold brick. The Taipei County Government intends to apply to Guinness for inclusion. An official from Guinness stationed in Taiwan will be on hand to witness the unveiling of the gold brick.

■ Crime
Shooting shatters windows
Random shots fired by an air gun shattered glass at the CIT TV office building in Neihu and its surrounding area yesterday. Windows were broken in the CIT TV building, a car dealership and a bus stop close by the TV station's office building along Minquan East Road. The shooting is currently being investigated by Neihu police. They have yet to conclude if it had anything to do with an angry TV viewer.

■ Travel
Plane damage report due
A damage report on a Transasia Airways Corp A320 airplane that skidded off the runway after landing Oct. 19 at Sungshan Airport is expected to be completed by next week when Airbus Industrie engineers will decide whether or not the plane can be repaired. TransAsia flight GE536 from Tainan suffered damage to the front wheel of the aircraft and the cowling covering a generator. There were 106 passengers and crew members on board at the time. Aviation safety experts have been analyzing data on the incident to determine if the cause was pilot error, weather or mechanical failure. TransAsia Airways officials said yesterday that Airbus experts are in Taipei to assess the damage.

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