OBSERVATION: A local official said the group would visit to get a better grasp of the latest developments in domestic politics and cross-strait ties after the legislative polls
By Shih Hsiu-chuan
A group of former US government officials, including former secretary of defense William Perry, will visit Taiwan from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15 to assess the situation after the legislative election, which will be held in tandem with two referendums, a foreign ministry official said.

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By Flora Wang
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators has launched a campaign to boycott all referendums to be held next year, KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said yesterday.

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By Meggie Lu
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been embroiled in controversy over his recent and allegedly discriminative remarks about the Aborigines of the Amis tribe in the Sijhou Community (溪洲部落), Taipei County.

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SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR: May Chin is being probed for helping supporters find jobs and Chen Tsiao-long for distributing tea in exchange for votes
By Rich Chang, Flora Wang and Jimmy Chuang
Prosecutors yesterday said they are investigating independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Tsiao-long (陳朝龍) on suspicion of vote-buying.

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The great-grandson of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) yesterday said he agreed to a certain degree with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government's recent moves to purge the remnants of his great-grandfather's rule as it would prevent the DPP from using his family's name as a tool to "control fear" in the public in the future.

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REDUCING WASTE: An official from Westin said that the hotels would cease to offer disposable products such as toothbrushes and razors in its guest rooms
By Meggie Lu
Next time you check into a hotel, remember to pack your own toothbrush and comb to help protect the planet, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.

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EXCHANGE: The Taiwanese government and numerous universities offer a variety of scholarships for students from abroad, but making their stay pleasant can be hard
By Jenny W. Hsu
The black marble table was filled with half-finished Taiwan Beer cans, used chopsticks, crumpled up napkins partially covered with whipped cream, and cellphones whose ringtones fell on deaf ears.

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By Shelley Shan
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Institute of Transportation said yesterday that it has developed a software application that allows motorists to identify dangerous road sections around the nation using Google Earth.

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By Angelica Oung
Women in this country are given the hard sell rather than the hard facts on human papillomavirus (HPV) by some healthcare providers, a legislator and women's rights activists said yesterday.

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DPP DISSATISFACTION: Protesters rallied outside, calling for the mayor to negotiate a dispute over the layoff of workers in the transportation department
By Mo Yan-chih
On the first anniversary of Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin's (郝龍斌) inauguration, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City caucus yesterday expressed its dissatisfaction over major municipal developments and urged Hau to stop focusing on confronting the central government.

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By Flora Wang
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), who celebrated the first anniversary of her inauguration yesterday, vowed to turn the industrial city into an eco-friendly city.

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By Shelley Shan
Starting in 2011, when a phone call is made from a regular phone to a mobile phone, the charge will be determined by regular phone service operators, rather than by the mobile phone operators, according to a National Communications Commission (NCC) resolution announced yesterday.

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By Rich Chang
Prosecutors yesterday confirmed they had interviewed former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) about his use of a state affairs fund and special allowances during his terms as vice president and Cabinet minister.

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■ EARTHQUAKES

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