PUBLIC APPEAL: Defense ministry officials identified the legislature, individual legislators and the general public as the targets in the latest effort to sell their bill
By Rich Chang
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday launched a new campaign promoting the NT$610.8 (US$19.8 billion) bill to procure arms from the US to coincide with the opening of the new legislative term.

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UNIFIER: China's proposed law, the contents of which are still not known, yesterday achieved the remarkable feat of bringing the nation's polarized factions together
By Caroline Hong
The legislature yesterday united to issue a joint resolution urging China to rethink its proposed "anti-secession" law, while the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucuses called on people to demonstrate their disapproval of the law in rallies today.

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By Jimmy Chuang
Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday defended President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) over accusations he was getting too close to the People First Party (PFP) after clinching an agreement with PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

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By Jimmy Chuang
Following former independent legislator Walis Pelin (瓦歷斯貝林), former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chiu Chuei-chen (邱垂貞) has joined the Cabinet as a senior consultant.

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By Jewel Huang
Five pro-independence groups yesterday turned down a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) invitation to join in a DPP rally opposing China's "anti-secession" law tomorrow in Taipei.

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AGRICULTURE: China has said it will expand market access for Taiwan's agriculture. There are no regulations preventing this, but the MAC warned there are some risks
By Joy Su
Following Beijing's recent vows to grant Taiwanese agricultural goods greater market access, Taiwan yesterday indicated that it was willing to see an increase in the export of fruits and vegetables to China, but cautioned exporters not to move too fast.

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LABOR RIGHTS: The president said the government is moving to develop more opportunities for female workers and to create a `female-friendly' workplace
By Huang Tai-lin
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said the government is now undertaking work to integrate resources to further promote gender equality.

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NEW GUIDELINES: The council called on employers to prepare for the new pension system, as its launch date is less than four months away
By Cody Yiu
As the July 1 deadline for the implementation of the reformed pension system is approaching, the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) has begun urging employers to find out whether their employees will opt to stay with the old pension plan or switch to the new one.

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By Mo Yan-chih
In an effort to create a friendlier environment for women in Taiwan, representatives from various women's groups yesterday urged legislators to keep gender issues in mind and push bills related to women's rights.

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BEDFELLOWS?: Some were not amused by Lee Teng-hui's daughter's comment that her father never wanted Chen and Soong to `sleep together'
Annie Lee (李安妮), daughter of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), came under fire yesterday after she compared the recent meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to a couple having sex on a blind date.

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UNITY NEEDED: The DPP caucus said it will humbly accept criticism on the recent Chen-Soong meeting, but that the country needs cross-party reconciliation
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus in the Legislative Yuan said yesterday that it fully supports President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) move to seek cross-party reconciliation and expressed the hope of ending the row triggered by Chen's recent meeting with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

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Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday that the issue of changing the country's official name should not become an ideological argument.

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The Taiwan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence yesterday urged the government to expand the Ministry of the Interior's (MOI) Domestic Violence and sexual assault prevention Committee.

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■ Rescue
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