■ Politics
Lee has back problems
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) recently canceled many of his public activities because he has been suffering from a spinal bone spur, which prevents him from standing for long periods of time, Hwang Kun-hu (黃崑虎), the president of the Friends of Lee Teng-hui association said Saturday. Lee was absent yesterday from a Lee Teng-hui School class held in Taoyuan County, for which Lee was scheduled to have been the lecturer. Hwang said that Lee called him on Thursday and revealed his bone spur affliction which has bothered him for weeks. Because of his age of 82, Lee cannot risk surgery to remove the bone spur, so for the time being Lee is undergoing rehabilitation and wearing a magnetic back support, Hwang said.
■ Environment
Rare birds still alive
Collaboration between local government and bird conservationists in the outlying Matsu areas has ensured the survival of rare birds, including the endangered Chinese crested tern. Rob Butler, a research scientist with the Canadian government yesterday observed birds and coastal environment in Matsu under the company of Taiwanes bird conservationist Simon Liao (廖世卿), independent Legislator Yang Chung-jse (楊宗哲), and Chang Show-hwa (張壽華), the chief of the Matsu Construction Bureau. They observed, distantly, about 200 bridled tern, 50 greater crested tern and one Chinese crested tern on or near nearby islets. "We are happy about the survival of such birds, especially after the passage of recent typhoons," Chang said. The Chinese crested tern has always been rare and little known since the discovery of 1863.
■ Diplomacy
Berger arrives for visit
Taiwan yesterday welcomed Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, saying his five-day state visit would help to further cement ties and enhance bilateral cooperation. Berger, who arrived in Taipei Saturday night to attend Sunday's inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU) set up by Taiwan, was honored in a welcoming ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park in Taipei. Top Taiwanese officials, including President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), as well as foreign envoys attended the welcoming ceremony.
■ Environment
Violators fined for bad air
One third of construction sites inspected by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) last month failed to meet criteria that ensure good air quality. Violators have been fined between NT$100,000 and NT$1 million for poor management. Last month, the EPA investigated 15 large construction sites in central Taiwan. Environmental inspectors found that five construction sites had caused serious air pollution involving the spread of suspended particles, or dust. Meanwhile, others caused minor problems regarding air quality. Companies managing such poorly-designed construction sites have been fined between NT$100,000 and NT$1 million. Officials said only three construction sites meet the criteria. The result shows that less than 20 percent of construction sites inspected meet criteria. EPA officials said that common problems leading to the spread of dusts are about uncovered materiel and supplies, the lack of car-washing facilities, poorly-designed routes for trucks, and others.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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