VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: The preamble for a draft constitution proposed by a private group states Taiwan is a `free and democratic republic that is governed by the rule of law'
By Ko Shu-ling
The first draft constitution proposed by a private group to receive sufficient endorsement from lawmakers will proceed to the legislature's Procedure Committee today.

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DOUBTS: A KMT legislator said the government would pressure the state public prosecutor and his team into undermining probes into DPP presidential hopefuls
By Rich Chang
The nation's first special investigation team under the state public prosecutor-general was established yesterday with an opposition legislator doubting that the team would properly investigate the alleged misuse by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential hopefuls of special allowance funds.

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By Ko Shu-ling and Shih Hsiu-chuan
Pan-blue members on a legislative committee lashed out at Minister of Justice Morley Shih (施茂林) yesterday, questioning the way he handled a personnel reshuffle of the judiciary and alleging the move was aimed at currying favor with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

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The Executive Yuan will soon unveil an investigative report on legal transgressions by commissioners of the controversial National Communications Commission (NCC), an official said yesterday.

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Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) said yesterday that the Control Yuan, the nation's highest watchdog body, has not done anything about allegedly illegal donation solicitation by former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德).

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MIRAGE: Beijing's appointment of Hong Kong's chief executive suggests the seemingly competitive election is a sham decorated with ideals and a dream of suffrage
By Jewel Huang
One week after Beijing-backed Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) was re-elected as the chief executive of Hong Kong, decided by a 800-agent election committee ostensibly on behalf of 7 million Hong Kong citizens, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) yesterday signed an official order to appoint Tsang as the third-term chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region starting July 1.

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The campaign to rid the country of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has entered a critical period, with hog farms around the nation gradually halting the vaccination of their pigs in five phases beginning yesterday.

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ONE MORE CHANCE: The embattled station manager asked the public to give the TVBS news team a chance to make up for their mistake and pursue quality news
By Shelley Shan
Talk show host Lee Tao (李濤) yesterday announced that he was stepping down as general manager of TVBS News.

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By Angelica Oung
Spring is here, bringing cheer and short sleeves to most and seasonal conjunctivitis to an unfortunate minority. Despite the misery red and itchy eyes can bring, your mom is right -- don't rub your eyes.

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By Chien Chun-yu
In 2002, train enthusiast Ho Yuan-fu (何源富) invented a durable postcard made of wood that travelers could take around Taiwan and use to collect postmarks from various regions.

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IT'S JUST A KISS: Chao Lien-ti said he asked female officers to kiss him out of courtesy and did not think this constituted sexual harrassment
By Rich Chang and Flora Wang
Vice Minister of National Defense Chu Kai-sheng (朱凱生) confirmed yesterday that Vice Admiral Chao Lien-ti (趙連弟) has stepped down.

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The National Palace Museum said yesterday that it had no plans to conduct large-scale checks on its collections in the near future.

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■ Crime
ID numbers prevent thefts
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