■ China Airlines to hire staff
China Airlines (華航) said it plans to hire 120 new flight attendants as it expands its fleet and services. The planned recruitment will increase the number of the airline's flight attendants by 5 percent to about 2,320, according to a statement from the company. China Airlines last month said it raised NT$10 billion (US$319 million) through loans from 12 banks to help pay for new aircraft. The carrier will receive 10 new planes this year.
■ Brock to take council post
Former US trade representative William Brock has accepted the US-Taiwan Business Council's offer to become chairman of the organization, council officials said yesterday. Brock will replace William Cohen, who has tendered his resignation, the officials said. The US-Taiwan Business Council, established in 1976, is a private organization promoting trade and business relationships between the US and Taiwan. Brock, currently a board member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, had served as a House representative, senator and national chairman of the Republican Party before he was appointed US trade representative by then US president Ronald Reagan in 1981. He was secretary of labor during Reagan's second term.
■ Yuan speculation boosts NT
The New Taiwan dollar rose on speculation China is closer to easing its fixed exchange rate after Hong Kong fine-tuned its own peg. The NT dollar rose NT$0.083 to close at NT$31.30 on the Taipei foreign exchange market.
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