LANDMARK STEP: The closure is the first on-the-ground achievement toward scaling back North Korea's nuclear ambitions since the international crisis erupted in 2002
UN inspectors have verified that North Korea has shut down its sole functioning nuclear reactor, the chief of the UN's watchdog agency said yesterday, confirming Pyongyang's first step to halt production of atomic weapons in nearly five years.

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INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLE: No decision is expected until next year but reportedly neither man believes that the next administration will act decisively against Tehran
The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favor of military action before US President George W. Bush leaves office in 18 months. The shift follows an internal review involving the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department over the past month. Although the Bush administration is in deep trouble over Iraq, it remains focused on Iran.

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A powerful earthquake rocked Japan yesterday, killing seven people and injuring more than 750 and triggering a radiation leak at one of the world's biggest nuclear plants.

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A total of 9,597 inmates were released yesterday as a commutation statute to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the end of 38 years of martial law took effect.

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Chinese officials are blaming the international media, especially from the US, for fueling fears about the safety of the country's food and drug exports, a newspaper reported yesterday.

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By Yao Chieh-hsiu
An announcement from the Aviation Police Office that airports will be required to X-ray all luggage passing through customs has ignited a row with airlines, who fear longer delays will be bad for business.

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