PROTECTING A ‘TREASURE’: Former KMT chairman Lien Chan’s spokesman said that he did not need to be told by the Presidential Office how to do his job
By Ko Shu-ling
Seeking to stop a controversy from spinning out of control, the Presidential Office yesterday urged aides of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to exercise restraint after they insinuated that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) did not fully appreciate Lien’s efforts to improve cross-strait relations.

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By Tsau Chih-Ming and Chang Jui-chen
Chinese democracy activist Wang Dan (王丹) stirred debate recently over his suspicions that Chinese students may be “conducting organized activities” on college campuses in Taiwan.

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By Shelley Huang
Prosecutors in charge of investigating former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) corruption and money laundering cases recently requested that US judicial authorities return the fugitive Huang Fang-yen (黃芳彥), who has been accused of helping the former first family hide and launder assets.

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WEAK HAND: Pressure by Taiwanese businesses based in China, added to a poor negotiating approach, could spell trouble for Taiwan in future talks, analysts say
By Ko Shu-ling
The breakdown of negotiations on a tax agreement last week highlighted the government’s long-standing problems with backroom decision-making and poor communication, analysts said.

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'A NECESSITY': Officials said tapping renewable resources like the wind and sun were still a priority, but obstacles include public concerns over noise and aesthetics
By Vincent Y. Chao
Renewing nuclear reactors and building the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant are essential to realizing the government’s commitment to cut carbon emissions to 2000 levels by 2025, officials from government agencies and state-run Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) said yesterday.

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By Shelley Huang
Lawmakers yesterday accused Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) of refusing to admit to risks associated with the A(H1N1) vaccine and urged the DOH to increase compensation for anyone who experiences adverse effects.

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By Shelley Shan
The reconstruction work on Shanmei Bridge (山美大橋) — which was severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in August — broke ground yesterday after securing funding from Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大).

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A cable car system linking Sun Moon Lake and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village amusement park in Nantou County opened to the public yesterday, although its “official” opening is more than three months away.

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By Shelley Shan
Freeway toll booths will be closed between midnight and 7am from Friday to Sunday, the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau said yesterday.

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HUALIEN COUNTY: Commissioner Fu Kun-chi is a big supporter of the proposed freeway, but the council dropped the bill on technical grounds
The Hualien County Council yesterday decided against placing a draft bill on its agenda to allow the county government to hold a referendum on the construction of a freeway.

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By Flora Wang
The legislature’s Internal Administration Committee completed a preliminary review yesterday of the Executive Yuan’s draft “Hakka basic act,” which would require the government to designate a national holiday to honor the ethnic group and highlight the community’s contribution to Taiwan’s diversity.

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Myanmar has freed four Taiwanese fishermen held in detention for more than a month for alleged illegal fishing, a Taipei official said yesterday, after a fine was paid to secure their release.

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■ KAOHSIUNG

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