After Premier Su Tseng-chang's (蘇貞昌) decision to sack the top management at Taiwan Fertilizer Co, attention focused on the long-running feud between the company's former chairman Fan Chen-tsung (范振宗) and former president Huang Ching-yen (黃清晏), as well as the alleged involvement of first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) in the personnel reshuffle.

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By Chou Shyue-yow 周學佑
On May 2, the US and Japan published a joint statement about the realignment of US forces in Japan, the second so-called "2 plus 2" meeting under the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee.

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By Tung Chen-yuan and Wong Guo-chen 童振源、王國臣
On April 27, China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, announced that the following day it would raise its one-year lending rate by 0.27 percentage points to 5.85 percent from 5.58 percent. This was the first hike since October 18, 2004, but it differed from the 2004 raise in that the deposit rate remained unchanged.

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By Doug Bandow
The Vatican has been talking to the People's Republic of China (PRC) about normalizing relations, at least as much as "normal" relations are possible with the communist state.

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US power in the Pacific faces few contenders, but keeping the situation this way is a question of constant vigilance
It has been a rough few days. Steaming up the eastern coast of Japan, Commander Joseph Deleon's guided missile frigate has been tossed around on heavy seas and the younger sailors, back from five months ashore, are feeling seasick. Grounded by high winds, the helicopter pilots are watching movies in the ward room.

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Reform of the UN has always been a challenging task, but with many members states threatening to or actively withdrawing support, it's now more important than ever
By George Soros
The UN is torn apart by internal tensions. No sooner was the controversy over the creation of a Human Rights Council satisfactorily resolved than a new battle has erupted. The US is pressing for administrative reforms and threatening to cut off funding if the reforms are not forthcoming.

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