■ Diplomacy
Vatican envoy vows support
A senior Vatican official, whose visit to Taiwan prompted speculation that the Holy See may soon break ties with the nation, said yesterday that the Vatican would not abandon Taiwan even if it opens an embassy in China. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, a former Vatican foreign minister, said the Holy See would find an "appropriate way" to maintain ties with Taiwan. "When religious freedom is realized in China, then the Holy See is ready to change the nature of relations with Taiwan," Tauran said in a speech in Taipei. "If and when the normalization [of relations with China] happens, the Holy See will not abandon Taiwan," said Tauran, who is scheduled to meet President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during his week-long stay. He did not elaborate, but added that the Holy See never took the initiative to break diplomatic relations with its allies.
■ Society
Former ICRT newsman dies
Former ICRT news director David White died after a long illness on Nov. 16 in Perth, Australia, at the age of 81. The Shanghai-born White, a British citizen, joined the ICRT news department in 1980 and was news director from 1987 to 1989. After serving in the Royal Navy during World War II, White returned to Asia. He worked for the South China Morning Post in the late 1940s, Cathay Pacific Airlines from 1949 to 1954, Radio Hong Kong in the early 1960s and for the Australian Broadcasting Commission starting in 1965.
■ Politics
Scandal will affect poll: Lu
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday voiced concern about her party's performance in local government elections next month. Lu urged voters to focus on individual candidates, not political parties, because the election on Dec 3 is to choose local chiefs. Lu said she thinks the Democratic Progressive Party might have an "unsatisfactory" election result in view of recent scandals which have left the DPP with a negative image. "After the election, a party reform conference will definitely be a DPP priority," Lu said. She also called for the establishment of a workable mechanism enabling effective, rational communication among leaders of political parties. "I strongly urge KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to demonstrate his own scholar-like strength of character to collaboratively carry out communication with other parties," Lu said.
■ Diplomacy
AIT warns of visa fraud
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday warned Taiwanese citizens intending to enter the 2007 US Diversity Visa Lottery program to be wary of visa fraud conducted by private Web sites and e-mails offering assistance registering for the lottery or notifying them that they have "won" a US immigrant visa. AIT said yesterday Taiwanese passport holders who wish to enter the lottery should only use the US State Department's Web site for advice and registration. Using a non-AIT or non-Department of State registration service will not increase the chances of winning, the statement said. Outsides services have no influence on the results of the Diversity Lottery, the AIT warned. "The US Department of State does not charge a fee for registration. All winners of the lottery will be notified by a letter sent directly from the National Visa Center in the US. At no times are winners notified by email or telephone and winners are never asked to pay a fee in order to `accept a US green card,'" an AIT press release said yesterday.
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
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
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
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
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