■ Politics
No date for debate yet
After more than an hour of intense exchange, no con-sensus was reached yester-day between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on the date on which President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) should hold a debate on the issue of constitutional reform. The DPP proposed seven dates between Dec. 1 and Dec.7 but the KMT insisted the debate be staged only after Chen is formally nominated by his party as its presidential candidate. Chen is expected to be officially nominated on Dec. 10 by the DPP's Central Executive Committee. The KMT also insisted both sides announce their plans for substantial constitutional reform one week prior to the debate. The DPP said its proposal has already been clearly stated. DPP Secretary General Lee ying-yuan (李應元) later suggested both camps resume negotiations at the end of next month after they have completed their campaign platforms.
■ Crime
Illegal medicine seized
Police seized 873.5kg of smuggled medicines last Wednesday from the ware-house of an air cargo ship-ping company at Taoyuan, a source said yesterday. The smuggled medicines have a total market value of more than NT$100 million. They include duromine and 16 other kinds of controlled medicines. Duromine con-tains phentermine, which is similar to amphetamine. By law, a controlled medicine cannot be sold without a prescription. A suspect has been arrested, the source said.
■ Crime
Bomb task force formed
Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) yester-day directed that a special police task force be formed to probe the recent spate of incidents involving explosive devices and fake bombs in Taipei. The latest bomb, containing explosive pow-der, electric wires and some rice, was found Nov. 22 at the Ministry of Finance's tax-data center near Tunhua South Road and Chunghsiao East Road. Two similar explosive devices were found in Ta-an Forest Park on Nov. 13 and Nov. 27. Yu instructed the National Police Administration to work with the Taipei City Police Department in establishing the special task force to look into the matter. Yu said that the National Security Bureau will also look into whether the incidents are connected to international terrorist activities.
■ Travel
UK warning on Indonesia
Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a warning via the British Trade and Cultural Office to all UK citizens living in Taiwan, advising against all non-essential travel to Indonesia. "There is a high general threat from terrorism in Indonesia," a statement on the FCO Web site said yesterday. "We continue to receive information that indicates terrorists are planning further attacks, including against Wester-ners, throughout the country."
■ Weather
CWB monitoring typhoon
The Central Weather Bureau said yesterday that it is monitoring the movement of Typhoon Lupit, which could affect the weather in the coming days. Lupit was located 600km south of Guam early yesterday, moving west northwest at 22kph, the bureau said, adding that the typhoon could turn north and come close to Taiwan.
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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