UNDER THREAT: Although Rananim only skirted the nation's northern coast, weather bureau officials said that mudslides, flooding and rain was still a concern
By Chiu Yu-tzu
Typhoon Rananim yesterday skirted Taiwan, bringing torrential rains to mountainous areas in the north. Forecasters said considerable rainfall might also occur in the nation's central and southern parts in the next few days.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Lisa Wang
China's economy is likely to experience a hard landing, as the nation's property sector is close to bursting due to excessive investment over the past years, a Morgan Stanley economist said in Taipei yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

US Marines backed by tanks and aircraft seized the heart of the holy Iraqi city of Najaf yesterday in a major assault on Shiite rebels, but they kept out of a site sacred to millions of Shiites around the world.

[ FULL STORY ]

Iraq abandoned plans to develop nuclear weapons in 1991 and had no usable weapons of mass destruction during last year's US-led invasion, according to the man who oversaw former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's nuclear program.

[ FULL STORY ]

POLITICAL TRANSITION: Lee Hsien Loong was set to take the oath of office in a ceremony last night, becoming the city state's third prime minister
Singapore was to change leaders for the first time in 14 years yesterday, swearing in Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) as prime minister after a carefully orchestrated succession process seen as key to the city-state's economic success.

[ FULL STORY ]