■ 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.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
The age requirement for commercial pilots and airline transport pilots is to be lowered by two years, to 18 and 21 years respectively, to expand the pool of pilots in accordance with international standards, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced today. The changes are part of amendments to articles 93, 119 and 121 of the Regulations Governing Licenses and Ratings for Airmen (航空人員檢定給證管理規則). The amendments take into account age requirements for aviation personnel certification in the Convention on International Civil Aviation and EU’s aviation safety regulations, as well as the practical needs of managing aviation personnel licensing, the ministry said. The ministry
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