Milestones

APPOINTED. FRANK HSIEH, 58, Kaohsiung's Mayor, as Taiwan's new Premier, following the resignation of former Premier Yu Shyi-kun and his cabinet; in Taipei. A one-time civil-rights lawyer who previously served as chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, Hsieh is known as a moderate who could help smooth rocky relations with Taiwan's opposition majority.

COMMUTED. The death sentence of TENZIN DELEK RINPOCHE , 54, prominent Tibetan monk jailed by Chinese authorities; to life in prison, by the Higher People's Court of Sichuan province; in Chengdu, China. In 2002, Delek was convicted of participating in terrorist bombings and secessionist activities...