■SOCIETY
AmCham holds happy hour
The American Chamber of Commerce in Taichung invited people to join this month’s happy hour on Tuesday starting at 6:30pm at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. This informal social event is open to all and not exclusive to chamber members. No reservations needed. For more information, call AmCham administrative coordinator River Chen at 0955-038-733, or (04) 2471-8133, or check its Web site www.amchamtaichung.org.
■GAMING
Casino boss visits Kinmen
Lawrence Ho (何猷龍), The son of Macau’s casino king Stanley Ho (何鴻燊), visited Kinmen on Friday to learn about its investment environment and the feasibility of building a casino there. Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco International Development, arrived at Shanyi Airport in Kinmen on his private jet at 10:30am, the first direct flight from Hong Kong to the Taiwan-held island just off China’s southeastern coast. In his meeting with Kinmen County Commissioner Lee Chu-feng (李炷烽), Lawrence Ho said he had confidence in Kinmen’s investment environment and that he was interested in its entertainment sector. Lee responded that he was happy that foreign capital could come to the county, but reminded his guest that whether or not Kinmen will allow casinos hinges on public opinion. Lee said opinion polls have shown considerable opposition among local residents to such an idea and said he would wait until there were more concrete plans before putting the matter to a public referendum.
■SCIENCE
Morakot delays exhibit
Because of Typhoon Morakot, the National Science Council (NSC) yesterday postponed the opening of an astronomy exhibition, which was meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first observation of space and the International Year of Astronomy. The exhibition, titled “400 Years of Sky Gazing,” is aimed at explaining astronomy, showing how it relates to history, literature, religion, science and technology, and detailing how it has impacted human exploration of the universe. The presentation will be theatrical, featuring 3D projections, digital audio and video displays and multi-touch interaction installations to showcase scientific knowledge, said the council, adding that noted scientists from abroad would also give seminars. The exhibition is scheduled to run though Sept. 13 at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall’s Second and Third Display Rooms and Art Gallery. Admission to the exhibit is free.
■ENVIRONMENT
UK office focuses on climate
The British Trade and Cultural Office said in its latest e-newsletter that it would hold a series of activities on climate change as part of a UK government program geared toward a global pact on the issue. This is a landmark year for climate change because the nations of the world will gather in Copenhagen in December to work out a new international agreement to tackle climate change because the Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012, the office said. As part of the efforts, the office is planning to work with the organization Taiwan Environmental Action Network to hold a workshop on climate change from Aug. 25 to Aug. 26 at the Youth Hub in Taipei City. The office and Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs will together organize a forum on greenhouse gas management, which is scheduled to take place Sept. on 29 at National Taiwan University’s International Convention Center, the e-newsletter said.
Several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials including Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) are to be summoned for questioning and then transferred to prosecutors for holding an illegal assembly in Taipei last night, the Taipei Police said today. Chu and two others hosted an illegal assembly and are to be requested to explain their actions, the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongzheng (中正) First Precinct said, referring to a protest held after Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹), KMT Taipei's chapter director, and several other KMT staffers were questioned for alleged signature forgery in recall petitions against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators. Taipei prosecutors had filed
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
NEW WORLD: Taiwan is pursuing innovative approaches to international relations through economics, trade and values-based diplomacy, the foreign minister said Taiwan would implement a “three-chain strategy” that promotes democratic values in response to US tariffs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said. Taiwan would aim to create a “global democratic value chain,” seek to capitalize on its position within the first island chain and promote a “non-red supply chain,” Lin was quoted as saying in the ministry’s written report to the Legislative Yuan submitted ahead of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting slated for today. The Ministry would also uphold a spirit of mutual beneficial collaboration, maintaining close communication and consultations with Washington to show that Taiwan-US cooperation
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