UNPRECEDENTED BREAK: The US State Department is likely behind Washington's delay in accepting a letter from Taiwan that requests pricing data for jet fighters
By Charles Snyder
The US-Taiwan Business Council applauded the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee for approving a resolution to prod the administration of US President George W. Bush to sell F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan.

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STEPPING UP: Nauruan President Ludwig Scotty said that UN Resolution 2758 doesn't state that Taiwan is part of China, nor does it deny Taiwan's right to join the world body
Several more of Taiwan's diplomatic allies voiced their support for the country's bid to join the UN on Thursday during the annual session of the UN General Assembly.

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By Flora Wang
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) celebrated the 21st anniversary yesterday of its founding with a cocktail party presided over by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) in Taipei yesterday.

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By Jimmy Chuang and Flora Wang
The Council of Grand Justices yesterday ruled that some of the clauses contained within the March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee Statute (三一九槍擊事件真相調查特別委員會條例) are unconstitutional and should be immediately removed from the statute.

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Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday that the gap between central government revenues and expenditures next year should fall below the NT$100 billion (US$3 billion) mark for the first time in nine years.

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Taiwanese tourists will be fingerprinted and photographed upon arrival in Japan beginning on Nov. 20, a visiting Japanese official said.

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PEDAGOGUES: The Ministry of Education yesterday presented teachers with awards in recognition of their distinguished service and commitment over many years
By Mo Yan-chih
With a mission to educate pupils in his hometown, 60-year-old Lee Teng-sung (李天送) has been teaching at Guning Elementary School in Kinmen County for the past 40 years.

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FOND FAREWELL: Rail fans yesterday took a nostalgic trip on the Shenao Line, which will be closed until it has been rejuvenated to carry tourists to Keelung Sea World
By Shelley Shan
As Cheng Min-chang (鄭銘彰), chairman of the Railway Culture Society, looks at photos taken along the Shenao Railway Line (深澳線), he remembers his days as a young railway fan.

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By Jimmy Chuang
Hualien prosecutors have yet to decide whether to approve a request from the "Huakang Wolf" (華岡之狼) to work at a church during his time on parole, his guardian said yesterday.

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By Angelica Oung
Some private schools are denying teachers who are mothers-to-be the maternity leave they are entitled to under the Gender Equality Employment Law (兩性工作平等法), womens' rights organizations said yesterday.

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By Mo Yan-chih
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) came under fire yesterday over the management of the Taipei Arena since the city government took over the facility from scandal-ridden Eastern Multimedia Group.

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The average age at which Taiwanese are affected by age-related farsightedness has dropped from 40 to 35, a survey released recently showed.

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PRIVATE MYTH: Members of the Rukai tribe protested the rewriting of the story of one of their traditional legendary figures for computer games and popular music
By Loa Iok-sin
Descendents of "Princess Bannen" of the Rukai tribe yesterday called the popular myth about the princess an unauthorized rewriting of a true story in the tribe's history.

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By Jimmy Chuang
A group of Atayal Aborigines from Smangus Village in Hsinchu County yesterday said they would appeal a Taiwan High Court ruling that sentenced members of their tribe to prison terms for removing a fallen tree in their village forest.

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By Loa Iok-sin
Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod urged the legislature yesterday to accelerate the process of legislation under the Aboriginal Basic Law (原住民族基本法) in a bid to better protect Aboriginal rights.

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