NOTHING NEW: The 'peaceful coexistence legislation' does not represent the views of a democracy and adds nothing to James Soong's plan in 2005, the president said
By Ko Shu-ling
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday struck back at former United Microelectronics Corp chairman Robert Tsao (曹興誠), calling Tsao's unification referendum proposal the same as the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) referendum proposal seeking "reentry" to the UN using the name "Republic of China."

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By Shih Hsiu-chuan
A staunch supporter of Taiwan in the European Parliament yesterday called on the EU to confirm its recognition of Taiwan, saying EU foreign ministers should together send out a message that recognizes the country's existence.

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By Ko Shu-ling
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday called on Taiwanese to have faith in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the upcoming elections, dismissing former DPP legislator Shen Fu-hsiung's (沈富雄) call to vote against DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) if the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) wins 60 percent of the legislative seats in January.

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AUTHORITY: The premier says that the law allows the CEC to give orders to electoral commissions in cities and counties and that clarifications would soon be provided
By Flora Wang
Amid the drawn-out debate between the pan-blue and pan-green camps over the Central Election Commission's (CEC) decision to adopt a "one-step" voting procedure for January's legislative poll and referendums, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said the CEC had authority over district electoral commissions.

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By Mo Yan-chih
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday pledged to adopt "flexible diplomacy" to end the nation's diplomatic isolation, while improving cross-strait relations based on the "1992 consensus" and "mutual non-denial" if elected.

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By Mo Yan-chih
One day before embarking on a three-day visit to Japan, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday he intended to obtain a better understanding of Japan and try to change the "anti-Japan" image attributed to him by some media outlets in Japan.

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By Ko Shu-ling
The Central Election Commission's (CEC) registration period for the legislative elections closed yesterday, with a record number of candidates registering for legislator-at-large seats.

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HEARING: The law has been scrutinized for giving large corporations more power by removing all the previous controls and for raising the cap on overseas investment
By Shelley Shan
Representatives from Taiwan Media Watch and 67 other civic groups gathered outside Chunghwa Telecom yesterday morning, saying that they refused to endorse the draft of a new communications law produced by the National Communications Commission (NCC).

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By Shih Hsiu-chuan
Democratic politicians from Hong Kong expressed concerns yesterday about democratic development in the territory after Beijing-backed candidates trounced the pro-democracy camp in Sunday's district council elections.

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NEED: Chinese Childrenhome and Shelter Association founder Hung Jing-fang said that more than 70 percent of children that ended up at homes or shelters were abused
By Jenny W. Hsu
The Chinese Childrenhome and Shelter Association (CCSA) on International Children's Rights Day yesterday asked all former children's home residents who are struggling financially to contact the association, and urged the government to set up a comprehensive system to protect the welfare of abandoned or abused children.

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By Rich Chang
Taipei prosecutors yesterday indicted an agent and a former agent of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau (MJIB) on suspicion of spying for China.

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WARNING BELLS: A radioactive machine had been stolen, possibly for scrap metal. It would have been melted down were it not for a recycling center radioactivity detector
By Meggie Lu
The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) yesterday revealed that an industrial radiography machine listed as stolen on the council's monitor roster at the beginning of last month had been found at a metal recycling factory.

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The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) called on Beijing yesterday to refrain from pressuring Taiwanese businesspeople operating in China and to stop using them as political tools for its own purposes.

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■ POLITIC

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