NO 'FAVOR': DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming said what the KMT was doing was simply in line with the traditional practice of showing respect to the smaller parties
By Mo Yan-chih
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said he was in favor of the KMT yielding at least four legislative committee convener seats to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

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Half of the respondents to an opinion poll conducted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were concerned that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) may abuse its legislative majority, pollsters said.

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QUIET ON THE CARIBBEAN: The ministry declined to comment on speculation that the new Barbadian prime minister-elect is set to switch ties from Beijing to Taipei
By Jenny W. Hsu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said that diplomatic ties with Honduras remain firm in spite of the Central American nation's president recently saying he would try to shore up ties with all nations, including China.

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By Charles Snyder
Was there a serious US-Chinese naval confrontation in the Taiwan Strait in November, or wasn't there? Nobody, it seems, knows for sure.

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Thirty-four women were elected in the Jan. 12 legislative elections, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total of 113 seats and signifying a sharp increase in the political participation of women and the nation's progress, the Awakening Foundation told reporters yesterday.

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CAUCUS TO CHOOSE: Closed-door negotiations yesterday failed to find a consensus on a nominee, so the KMT caucus will now hold a poll tomorrow
By Mo Yan-chih
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus will hold a straw poll to decide on its deputy legislative speaker candidate tomorrow afternoon after a closed-door negotiation held by KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday failed to agree to select a single nominee from the six candidates.

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CONSTRUCTING CLAIMS: Taipei District Court found the KMT legislator guilty of slandering Yu Shyi-kun for alleging Yu had lobbied for a construction company
By Rich Chang
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) was found guilty by the Taipei District Court on Friday on a charge of slander for accusing former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Yu Shyi-kun of illegally lobbying for a company.

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Employment for the nation's physically and mentally challenged residents remains far from ideal, although improvements have been made in the areas of health coverage and education, a survey showed.

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GREENING UP: A government project to help absorb carbon dioxide emissions and a civic group seeking to boost tourism are taking to the hills to plant more trees
The government will continue its efforts to expand forests around Taiwan to promote sustainable usage of territorial lands, officials from the Construction and Planning Administration (CPA) said.

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By Shelley Shan
Approximately 25,000 train tickets were sold within three minutes when the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) began its online ticket sale for the Lunar New Year holidays yesterday.

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Another company producing globes identifying Taiwan as part of China has said that it would recall its products following complaints from customers and media outlets.

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■ CRIME