■ Society
Bird flu workshop planned
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Council of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine will co-sponsor a workshop on avian influenza tomorrow and Thursday at the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the National Taiwan University. The workshop will bring together scientific experts from Taiwan and the US to discuss avian influenza prevention and control programs, surveillance of migratory birds, eradication and control procedures in live bird markets and genetic sequencing of the avian influenza virus. Meanwhile, the AIT will also hold a digital videoconference on Friday at the American Cultural Center to talk about the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report for Taiwan. John Miller, the director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from the US Department of State and senior coordinator Mark Taylor will give the speech from 8:30 am to 10am. For more information, please check the AIT's Web site www.ait.org.tw
■ Crime
Ministry confirms execution
The Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that it had approved the nation's first execution of the year, but it was not the one reported by a local newspaper. Vice Justice Minister Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) was responding to a report carried by the United Daily News that Justice Minister Morley Shih (施茂林) had approved the execution of Tseng Szu-ju (曾思儒), who murdered a senior high school teacher after breaking into her residence in 2002. Reports also said that after Shih approved the execution order, the High Prosecutor's Office would carry out the order within three days. Lee said the ministry had adopted a very cautious attitude toward executions and had indeed approved an execution, although it was not Tseng's. Lee said lawyers have requested an investigation of the case to find out about the possibility of filing an extraordinary appeal.
■ Politics
No decision on China cap
A Home and Nations legislative committee meeting yesterday ended with no conclusion as pan-green and pan-blue lawmakers verbally sparred during a review of draft amendments to the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例). The two camps argued whether to approve the amendments, which seek to remove investment caps on China-bound investments by Taiwan-based companies. The committee chair prematurely adjourned the meeting for lack of consensus and to put a halt to the verbal clashes.
■ Society
Welfare budget approved
The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved the Ministry of the Interior's social welfare budget for next year. A total of NT$1.589 billion (US$48.24 million) will be allocated for social welfare and charity work, and will mainly benefit non-profit organizations that run shelters, homes for the elderly and institutions for the mentally and physically challenged. Addressing a joint meeting of legislative committees, Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) said yesterday that the ministry would focus on establishing more care facilities and institutions to accommodate 3,335 people nationwide who are in need of care and counseling. The social welfare budget for this year is NT$1.359 billion (US$41.25 million), according to ministry officials.
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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