WORDS AND DEEDS: The ministry said that Beijing must take concrete action and show flexibility if its offer to help Taiwan join the WHO is more than empty words
By Melody Chen
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged China to stop hindering Taiwan's effort to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA), two weeks ahead of the assembly's annual meeting.

[ FULL STORY ]

NAVAL SALUTE: The president invited his counterpart from the Marshall Islands for a ceremony on the ship, and later the two got drenched in a catamaran ride
By Jimmy Chuang
In response to Marshall Islands President Kessai Note's warm reception, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday invited Note to board one of two Lafayette-class frigates from Taiwan which were visiting Majuro.

[ FULL STORY ]

CONSULTATIONS NEEDED: MAC chairman Joseph Wu said that after Lien concludes his eight-day journey to China today, he needs to check in with the elected president
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) should debrief President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on the nature of his discussions with Chinese officials during his trip to China, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

The government will not accept the pandas that China reportedly is planning to give Taiwan if Beijing attempts to downgrade Taiwan's status to become part of China through the gift, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

COMMON MARKET?: At the end of his China tour, Lien Chan praised the Chinese economy and arranged for more party to party communication
By Caroline Hong
Capping off his tour of China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said he had encouraged Beijing to support a free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and ASEAN, while elaborating on the role of cross-party communications between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party.

[ FULL STORY ]

DECEPTIVE: The DPP's upcoming rally to garner support for its National Assembly candidates is little more than a ploy to swindle voters, the TSU secretary-general said
By Jewel Huang
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced that it will hold a large-scale campaign rally, dubbed "Anti-War for Protecting Taiwan," on Thursday evening to boost party momentum for the upcoming National Assembly elections. The rally will be held in Hsinchuang, Taipei County.

[ FULL STORY ]

EXCHANGE: Canadian university representatives met with their Taiwanese counterparts to hammer out ways to increase exchanges and academic partnerships
By Mo Yan-chih
In an effort to raise the competitiveness of Taiwan's institutions of higher education to international standards and encourage international exchanges, university representatives and government officials from Taiwan and Canada yesterday met and pledged to strengthen academic cooperation.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Wang Hsiao-wen
In an effort to foster a noise-free living environment, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday announced new noise-pollution regulations that will take effect across the nation beginning in July.

[ FULL STORY ]

SAD ENDING: When entertainer Ni Min-jan was found dead, it was impossible for his family to recognize him
Officials from the Ilan District Prosecutors' Office said that they are having a DNA test made on the body of veteran entertainer Ni Min-jan (倪敏然) in order to make a final confirmation of his identity.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Rich Chang
Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑) yesterday said the current discussion of developing confidence-building measures with China would not affect the ministry's determination to strenthen the nation's defenses.

[ FULL STORY ]

Taipei City's Health Department has been pushing for the formation of a citywide caring network for people suffering from depression, including a suicide-prevention research center, given that suicide has been one of the nation's top 10 causes of death for seven years in a row, a city health official said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

■ Politics
Officials vow tight security
[ FULL STORY ]