After weeks of histrionics, government denials, much grumbling and foot stomping from the public and consumer groups and a public warning shot across the bow from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Tuesday announced an end to its floating mechanism for gasoline prices.

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By Karleen Chiu 邱貴玲
When a 17-year-old boy surnamed Lin (林) murdered his father on the morning of July 26, one could not help but recall a similar tragedy which took place 20 years ago, that of Tsou Aborigine Tang Ying-shen (湯英伸). The fate of children in poor families has not changed much over the past two decades. Poor families are stuck on the bottom of the social ladder with little hope of improving their lot.

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By Kuo Cheng-deng 郭正典
Whether Taiwan is a country or not has long been a point of argument. Recently, in the debate about whether it should apply for UN membership using the name "Taiwan" rather than the "Republic of China" (ROC), some have said it is unnecessary for Taiwan to declare independence since it is already a country, while others believe it needs to declare independence to apply for UN membership.

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Unofficial deportations, extortion and poverty thrive in a Thai frontier town where a porous border between poverty and hope fuels rich trade in migrant misery
By Ian MacKinnon
Two trucks with cages crammed with Burmese migrant workers halt abruptly beside the Thai-Myanmar frontier's river landing stage. Detainees, standing and sitting, are pressed hard against one another and the wire mesh that is their temporary prison.

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By Steve Fuller
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, is the most impressive collective intellectual project ever attempted -- and perhaps achieved. It demands both the attention and the contribution of anyone concerned with the future of knowledge.

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By Rodrigo de Rato
In today's globalized economy, one country's economic and financial policies can reverberate far beyond its borders. Be it the spread of inflation or the impact of currency devaluation half a world away, global economic forces can have a direct impact on every person's livelihood.

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The Council of Labor Affairs contradicted itself when it announced it would draft a new standard contract for migrant workers, only to then say that workers can negotiate for their board, lodging fees and even the cost of their airfare.

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