■ Society
President's son to wed
The Presidential Office confirmed last night that Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son, will marry in June. His fiancee is Huang Jui-ching (黃睿靚). According to the Presidential Office, the engagement ceremony will take place on June 11 at a hotel in Taichung. The wedding is scheduled for June 18. Chen Chih-chung, 26, is expected to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley with a masters degree. Huang, 26, is a native of Changhua County and graduated with a degree in music from the Taipei National University of Art last year.
■ Education
UK to hike student visa fee
The British government said yesterday it planned to more than double the cost of visas for foreign students. The Foreign Office said the fee for students from outside the EU would rise from £36 (US$69) to £85. Officials said the hike, which will not be approved until after the May 5 national election, was necessary to cover the cost of processing student visa applications, which have increased by 30 percent in the last two years. However, universities have complained that the increase will deter overseas students from choosing UK schools.
■ Travel
Yu to attend US graduation
Presidential Office official last night confirmed that Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun is planning a trip to the US next month to attend his son's graduation. Yu Bing-tao (游秉陶), the secretary-general's eldest son who is currently pursuing a master's degree in international relations at Columbia University, is set to complete his degree this summer. The young Yu left for New York last May after obtaining his bachelor's degree in horticulture and political science from National Taiwan University. The date of the US trip is tentatively set for mid-May, said the official. When asked whether the secretary-general will take the opportunity to meet with local Taiwanese expatriates, the official said the trip is merely a private visit to attend the graduation ceremony. Asked whether Yu will make a detour during his stay in the US to Washington DC and meet with US government officials, the official declined to comment.
■ Criem
Soothsayer suffers ill fortune
A fortune teller fell victim to telephone fraud after he transmitted NT$2.8 million (US$90,000) to a stranger's bank account, a radio station reported yesterday. The 65-year-old man, identified as Liu, received a phone call from a stranger who said that a rich man had died in China and left NT$12 million to Liu, the report said. "Liu was puzzled because he didn't know anyone in China, but thought maybe the money was the result of the merit he had done through fortune telling." Liu was told he had to send money to a bank account to cover taxes before he could get the fortune. Liu's family warned him that it was probably a scam. But Liu took out bank loans and sent NT$2.8 million, in seven installments, to the caller's bank account, the report said. After realizing he had been duped, Liu contacted the police. The bank account was traced to a Taiwanese woman who claimed that she had lent the account to her brother-in-law in China, who might have committed the fraud.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
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
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
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