■ Politics
Lawmaker returns to KMT
Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) announced his return to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday after a 12-year absence. Saying that he felt like he was "coming home," Lee said his main reason for quitting the KMT to become a founding member of the New Party was his opposition to the policies of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). The lawmaker's announcement brought an end to weeks of speculation after he announced on May 18 that he would leaving the People First Party (PFP) because of its poor performance in last month's National Assembly elections. He blamed the poll results on the PFP's leaders decision to make friendly gestures toward the pan-green camp.
■ Cross-strait Ties
Lawmakers back TV plea
A total of 45 lawmakers released a joint letter yesterday urging the European satellite operator Eutelsat to continue leasing its satellite to a US-based Chinese-language TV station so that it can broadcast pro-"democracy programs" into China. At a press conference held in the Legislative Yuan, Liu Ying-chuan (劉鶯釧), a representative of the New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) station, urged Eutelsat to continue leasing its satellite to his company so that it can continue broadcasting free TV programs in China. Liu claimed that NTDTV's programs, designed to unveil "the realities in China," are being hindered by the Chinese authorities and that Eutelsat is planning to end its year-old deal with NTDTV under pressure from Beijing. The company has gained support for its plea from 93 members of the US Congress, 73 European lawmakers, as well as 25 members of the Canadian parliament.
■ Diplomacy
French delegation to visit
A five-member French delegation headed by Christian Bataille, the chair-man of a Taiwan-friendly group in the French National Assembly, will arrive in Taipei tomorrow for a six-day, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday. The group will visit David Chung (鍾榮吉), vice speaker of the Legislative Yuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) and Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), as well as other officials. They will also tour economic and cultural establishments such as the No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant and the National Palace Museum. Bataille, a socialist, last visited Taiwan in January 2003 to attend conference on Asia-Pacific security. The other members of the group include three of Bataille's colleagues in the National Assembly -- Michel Voisin, Albert Facon and Jacques Houssin -- as well as Delphine Bataille, a provincial councilor.
■ Health
Pet import rules changed
New regulations for the inspection and quarantine of imported cats and dogs take effect on Monday to prevent rabies from entering the country, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said yesterday. The bureau revised its inspection and quarantine guidelines in February. The new rules stipulate that cats and dogs imported from infected areas must have blood samples examined by certified laboratories at least 180 days before their entry. Bureau officials said that Taiwan has had no documented cases of rabies since 1961. They warned people not to buy animals from unidentified sources and encouraged people to report smuggling activities through the hotline: 0800-039131.
An exhibition demonstrating the rejuvenation of the indigenous Kuskus Village in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township (牡丹) opened at the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s conservation station in Taipei on Thursday. Agency Director-General Lin Hwa-ching (林華慶) said they have been promoting the use and development of forestry resources to local indigenous residents for eight years to drive regional revitalization. While modern conservation approaches mostly stem from western scientific research, eco-friendly knowledge and skills passed down through generations of indigenous people, who have lived in Taiwan for centuries, could be more suitable for the environment, he said. The agency’s Pingtung branch Director-General Yang Jui-fen (楊瑞芬)
Restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County are to be included in the Michelin Guide’s review for the first time this year, alongside existing entries from Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, the France-based culinary publication said yesterday. This year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Taiwan is to be unveiled on Aug. 19 in Taipei. In addition to the coveted star ratings, Michelin Taiwan would announce its “Bib Gourmand” selections — a distinction awarded to establishments offering high-quality food at moderate prices — on Aug. 12. This year’s Bib Gourmand list would also feature restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu
Rallies supporting recall efforts targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers as well as a rally organized by the KMT opposing the recall campaigns are to take place in Taipei today. Traffic controls were in place on Taipei City Hall Road starting from 10pm last night, and would be in place on Jinan Road Sec 1 from 8am today, police said. Recall campaign groups in Taipei and New Taipei City advocating the recall of KMT legislators, along with the “Safeguard Taiwan Anti-Communist Alliance” have announced plans for motorcycle parades and public rallies in both cities today. Permission has been granted for campaigners to hold
M1A2T ABRAMS TANKS: Thirty-eight of the 108 armored vehicles were delivered in December last year, with the rest to be delivered between later this year and next year The military is to live stream a round of live-fire training sessions on Thursday featuring its newly delivered M1A2T Abrams tanks, allowing the public to witness the training results firsthand, the Ministry of National Defense said. Based on the ministry’s plan, the live-fire training session, scheduled to take place at an army tank training ground in the Kengzihkou (坑子口) area of Hsinchu County, is to feature the US-made armored vehicles firing their 120mm smoothbore guns at moving and stationary targets, while stationary or in motion. At least one senior government official is expected to preside over the round of training sessions, per
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