INTERNATIONALIZATION: A measure to open mutual listings of Exchanged Traded Funds on Taiwan and Hong Kong stock markets is expected to meet Cabinet goals
By Shih Hsiu-chuan
The Cabinet yesterday approved five measures to enhance cross-strait securities exchanges, which officials said would promote the internationalization of the local stock market and encourage more medium and long-term foreign capital inflow.

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'FIRST STEP': Pyongyang has begun disabling its nuclear facilities, but it still has a stockpile of material that experts believe is enough for several bombs
The US administration said yesterday it will lift some trade sanctions against North Korea and move to take it off the US terrorism blacklist — a remarkable turnaround in policy toward the communist regime, which President George W. Bush once branded as part of an “axis of evil.” North Korea handed over a long-awaited accounting of its nuclear work to Chinese officials yesterday, fulfilling a key step in the denuclearization process.

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TENSIONS: A deputy defense official told Congress that the Ma government's decision to hold talks with Beijing may not be enough to offset China's threat
By Charles Snyder
The danger of a Chinese military attack on Taiwan has increased materially in the past few years as the balance of force in the Taiwan Strait continues to tilt toward Beijing, and it is not clear whether the efforts of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) government to draw closer to China has offset the rising danger, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Wednesday.

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China said yesterday it had done all it could to help ease the bloodshed and suffering in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, which has put the spotlight on China’s close ties to the country.

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By Crystal Hsu
The central bank toughened its monetary policy yesterday, hiking its benchmark interest rate by 0.125 percentage points and ordering lenders to put aside more saving reserves in an attempt to curb inflation stoked by surging fuel, food and raw material prices.

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