■ Crime
Two murdered women found
Hualien police said they found two unclothed female corpses on a riverbed yesterday. Both were strangled before being dragged to the locations where they were found, and the police suspect the two cases may be connected. The first corpse was discovered around 6am yesterday by an elderly man on the river bed under the Shueiyuan Bridge in Hualien. A second body was discovered by the police around 10am, less than 100m from the first. Both were only wearing underpants. The police suspect that the two females were first strangled to death, then dumped by the riverbed. There were no indications of rape. Both corpses are awaiting autopsies. Forensic doctors said that one woman, who is thought to be around 20, was thrown off the bridge after being strangled. The second was about 30, and had head wounds. Both women's' necks showed obvious signs of being strangled.
■ Politics
DPP mulls election date
The by-election for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman will be held before the Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 29 next year, a DPP spokesman said yesterday. For the time being, the DPP's Central Standing Committee has set two possible dates for the by-election, and the committee will announce the exact date by Thursday before accepting the registrations of candidates wishing to run for the post, the spokesman said, adding that the elected DPP chairman will take over after the Lunar New Year holiday season. Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun, former Council for Hakka Affairs Chairman Lo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Legislator Trong Chai (蔡同榮) have been tipped as potential candidates in the race.
■ Society
Pavarotti to wow Taichung
World-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who was scheduled to arrive in Taichung on a chartered jet last night, has chosen Taichung to conclude the Asia leg of his farewell world tour that began early this year. The 70-year-old opera legend will be greeted by Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) and his wife with flowers at Taichung's Chingchuankang Airport. Hu told reporters yesterday that he has prepared a "mysterious gift" that is expected to leave a deep impression in the opera singer's mind about Taichung. Pavarotti will sing at the Taichung Stadium on Wednesday to an audience of more than 20,000 people. Organizers said nearly all the seats have been sold, with all the seats priced at NT$1,000 (US$30) and below sold out. He will begin with three Neapolitan folk songs, followed by the opera songs that have made him famous, including Che Gelida Manina (Your Tiny Hand Is Frozen) from Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme.
■ Society
Web site explains ID cards
The public can ask questions about the new ID cards to be issued beginning on Dec. 21 by logging on to the Ministry of the Interior's Web site at www.moi.gov.tw, ministry officials said yesterday. The Web site will be accessible through the end of next year. Minister of the Interior Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) will publicly display the 21 security and anti-forgery measures contained in the new version of the Republic of China ID cards tomorrow at the Banciao City Household Registration Office in Taipei county, the officials said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
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