A renowned ornithologist from Tel Aviv University in Israel yesterday talked about his experiences in bird migration research and the contribution the field can make to peace.
Displaying a selection of pictures of people, ranging from politicians and military servicemen to nuns and children of various nationalities enjoying bird-watching, Yossi Leshem, a well-known ornithologist in Israel, said that through telescopes people not only see birds, but also understand that “we are protecting the same world.”
On a visit to Taiwan at the invitation of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to attend his second term inauguration tomorrow, Leshem delivered a speech at this year’s Taiwan Israel International Conference on Migrating Birds, cohosted by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which attracted bird watchers and nature lovers from around the nation.
Under the theme “Birds as Peacemakers in the Middle East,” Leshem spoke of the variety of birds in the region, through which 500 million birds migrate twice a year, and how he changed people’s impression of birds, which are considered bad luck in Islam.
He also described his development of a bird-migration map and a bird-zone map, and the application of scientific research to bird-strike prevention in aviation.
Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Yang (楊念祖), who was also at the conference, said Leshem’s achievements are a good demonstration of “smart power” because they seek to bridge people’s differences and deepen mutual understanding through peaceful means.
“It is important not only for scientific research, but also for bringing about better coexistence between human society and nature, as well as for enhancing mutual understanding among nations and reducing misunderstandings,” Yang said.
Earlier yesterday, Leshem paid a visit to Air Force General Headquarters, where he shared his experience on preventing bird hits on military aircraft.
Ma then received Leshem at the Presidential Office and commended him on his academic research and for bringing the chance of peace to the Middle East.
“It was a remarkable achievement that Professor Leshem was able to get together the air force commanders of five countries around Israel to discuss how to prevent bird hits on their military aircraft, after which the the countries turned from foes into friends,” Ma said.
Hong Kong-based American singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (方大同) has passed away at the age of 41, Fong’s record label confirmed yesterday. “With unwavering optimism in the face of a relentless illness for five years, Khalil Fong gently and gracefully bid farewell to this world on the morning of February 21, 2025, stepping into the next realm of existence to carry forward his purpose and dreams,” Fu Music wrote on the company’s official Facebook page. “The music and graphic novels he gifted to the world remain an eternal testament to his luminous spirit, a timeless treasure for generations to come,” it said. Although Fong’s
China’s military buildup in the southern portion of the first island chain poses a serious threat to Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, a defense analyst warned. Writing in a bulletin on the National Defense and Security Research’s Web site on Thursday, Huang Tsung-ting (黃宗鼎) said that China might choke off Taiwan’s energy supply without it. Beginning last year, China entrenched its position in the southern region of the first island chain, often with Russia’s active support, he said. In May of the same year, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) force consisting of a Type 054A destroyer, Type 055 destroyer,
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was questioned by prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating an attack on a taxi driver after he was allegedly driven on a longer than necessary route in a car he disliked. The questioning at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office was ongoing as of press time last night. Police have recommended charges of attempted murder. The legally embattled actor — known for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代) — is under a separate investigation for allegedly using fake medical documents to evade mandatory military service. According to local media reports, police said Wang earlier last year ordered a
Taiwan is planning to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based X-ray imaging to customs clearance points over the next four years to curb the smuggling of contraband, a Customs Administration official said. The official on condition of anonymity said the plan would cover meat products, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, large bundles of banknotes and certain agricultural produce. Taiwan began using AI image recognition systems in July 2021. This year, generative AI — a subset of AI which uses generative models to produce data — would be used to train AI models to produce realistic X-ray images of contraband, the official
RSS