For cyclists in Taipei, two things changed this weekend. On Saturday, the Taipei MRT system opened 12 more stations to cyclists and their bikes, bringing the number of stations with bicycle access up to 27 of the 69 stops. Then, on Sunday, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced new traffic rules for cyclists on city streets that will take effect at the end of this month.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Darson Chiu 邱達生
The idea of launching a so-called "one China common market" or "cross-strait common market" has ignited heated debate in Taiwan. What is a common market? Is a common market any different from a free trade agreement? If there must be a common market, is Taiwan ready for it, and is a common market between China and Taiwan feasible?

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shen Chung-hua 沈中華
Attracting businesses based in China back to Taiwan to register on the domestic stock exchange has been a recurring issue for those concerned about the country's economic development.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Lu Shih-hsiang 盧世祥
After losing the presidential election in 2000, Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) founded the Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation (兩岸共同經濟基金會) and asked for feedback. As a veteran of economics and media, I informed "Smiling Siew" that the problems confronting cross-strait peace and prosperity lie with China rather than Taiwan: He needed to convince Beijing, not Taipei.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Janet Rae-Dupree
Managers striving to foster creativity often use the time-worn phrase "thinking outside the box" to encourage workers to come up with something nobody else in the room is thinking. But the improvisational actress Patricia Ryan Madson has a better idea: Look inside the box and take a fresh look at what's already there.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Andrew Wilson
In 2001, US President George W. Bush claimed that he had looked into Russian President Vladimir Putin's eyes and found a soulmate for the West. Putin then proceeded to restore authoritarian rule in Russia.?Today, Western leaders may well be about to repeat the same mistake with Dmitry Medvedev.

[ FULL STORY ]