■ CRIME
Chens have met before
The Special Investigation Panel (SIP) began to investigate former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) alleged corruption and money laundering cases this year, but its director, Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南), actually crossed paths with Chen Shui-bian 23 years ago during another infamous case — when the former president’s wife, Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), was run over by a truck — local media reported on Sunday. Chen Shui-bian has always claimed the 1985 accident — which happened during Chen Shui-bian’s post-election tour to thank voters for their support after an unsuccessful bid for the county commissioner election in his native Tainan County — was politically motivated. Chen Shui-bian filed a lawsuit against the truck driver, Cheng Jung-tsai (張榮財), and Chen Yun-nan — who was a newly appointed prosecutor — was assigned to the case, ETTV-News reported. The case was closed after Chen Shui-bian withdrew the lawsuit after a second court hearing, the report said. When asked about the case by an ETTV reporter, Chen Yun-nan said he did not remember it.
■ DIPLOMACY
Freddy invites Dalai Lama
The lead vocalist of heavy metal band Chthonic, Freddy Lim (林昶佐), invited the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan in March during a meeting with him in Dharamsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, said a statement released by Taiwan Guts United, a pro-independence organization created by Lim. Lim, who is planning to organize a Free Tibet Concert in March to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, went to Dharamsala to seek the Tibetan spiritual leader’s blessing for the event and invited him to attend the concert. The Dalai Lama responded positively, saying he felt honored to be invited and would seriously consider attending the concert. However, the Dalai Lama added that he was still working on his schedule after February, Taiwan Guts United executive director Liao Wei-cheng (廖偉程) said.
■ CHARITY
Dogged volunteers required
Animals Taiwan is calling for volunteers to help out with the Fourth Annual Pet Carnival on Saturday and Sunday. The event will include a fashion show featuring stray dogs housed by the rescue center. Volunteers are needed to walk the dogs, distribute fliers and help sell doggie treats at the event. The festivities will be held at Shinkong Mitsukoshi’s Ashanti Square in Taipei’s Xinyi District (信義). Volunteers are also needed on Friday to help bathe and groom the dogs. For further information, contact liza@animalstaiwan.org.
■ ENTERTAINMENT
New Year lovers required
Still trying to figure out how to spend New Year’s Eve with your loved one? How about a public declaration of your love at Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County? The organizers of this year’s New Year’s Eve party at Sun Moon Lake said yesterday they were offering three couples the opportunity to express their love or even to propose to their partners on a floating waterside stage just before the countdown to the New Year begins. Those interested in taking part are urged to telephone Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration by noon tomorrow at 049-285-5668 ext. 360. The party, set to start at 7:30pm tomorrow at Shueishe Quay, will feature African dance, a musical fountain, a saxophone quartet and a show by Broadway performers, as well as other musical performances. A fireworks display will also take place to herald the New Year.
CARGO LOSS: About 50 containers at the stern of the ‘Ever Lunar’ cargo ship went overboard, prompting the temporary closure of the port and disrupting operations Evergreen Marine Corp, Taiwan’s largest container shipper, yesterday said that all crew members aboard the Ever Lunar (長月) were safe after dozens of containers fell overboard off the coast of Peru the previous day. The incident occurred at 9:40am on Friday as the Ever Lunar was anchored and waiting to enter the Port of Callao when it suddenly experienced severe rolling, Evergreen said in a statement. The rolling, which caused the containers to fall, might have been caused by factors including a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Russia, poor winter sea conditions in South America or a sudden influx of waves,
The Ministry of Culture yesterday officially launched the “We TAIWAN” cultural program on Osaka’s Nakanoshima sandbank, with the program’s mascot receiving overwhelming popularity. The cultural program, which runs from Aug. 2 to 20, was designed to partner with and capitalize on the 2025 World Expo that is being held in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to Oct. 13, the ministry said. On the first day of the cultural program, its mascot, a green creature named “a-We,” proved to be extremely popular, as its merch was immediately in high demand. Long lines formed yesterday for the opening
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
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