BLACKBALLED: Although this was the third refusal in seven months of a request that the UN consider Taiwan's application, this time the body did not use the usual rhetoric
By Jenny W. Hsu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday it was regrettable that the UN had once again rejected a letter submitted by a group of Taiwan allies expressing support for Taiwan's UN bid. As a sovereign and independent country, Taiwan has every right to be part of the global body, the ministry said.

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POWER CORRUPTS: As the violent crackdown in Tibet continues, the DPP hopeful and his supporters warned against the concentration of power within a single party
By Ko Shu-ling
To vote for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in Saturday's presidential election would be to endorse one-party rule, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday.

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By Flora Wang
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday filed a defamation lawsuit on behalf of the party's presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), against his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) following their allegation on Monday that Ma still possesses a valid US green card.

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By Jimmy Chuang
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said yesterday that none of its legislators possessed foreign nationality and asked Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to verify the national status of all 113 lawmakers.

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By Rich Chang and Jimmy Chuang
A nationwide crackdown on gangs was launched yesterday and a number of alleged gangsters had been arrested by the afternoon, the National Police Agency (NPA) said yesterday.

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TAIWAN-UK FORUM: The visiting epidemiologist tried to assure Taiwanese that the world body, as well as the UK and the US, would help even if Taiwan is not a member
If Taiwan were hit by an epidemic, the WHO would not stand idly by just because Taiwan is not one of its members, a British epidemiologist said in Taipei yesterday.

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By Shelley Shan
The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will be joining for the first time a global survey of international airports to gain a better insight into the status and competitiveness of the nation's leading airport, an aviation official said yesterday.

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With the launch of "Multicultural Week" in elementary schools in Taipei this week, several charity groups and school principals on Monday urged foreign spouses to play a greater role in their children's school life.

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The ancient remains of a human species found in Taichung City more than five years ago may be genetically linked to people in north Asia, revealing new possibilities about this little-known group of humans, researchers said yesterday.

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CHINA OPENING: A local official said that vigorous inspection was needed, especially if exchanges with China, where bird flu is spreading, were to rise
The government will not ease its animal and plant quarantine standards despite promises by the two presidential candidates to open Taiwan wider to the rest of the world, including China, an official said yesterday.

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STILL WATERS: Increased temperatures in Taiwan may lead to prolific mosquito breeding, which could increase the prevalence of dengue fever, the minister said
By Meggie Lu
Global warming could increase the prevalence of dengue fever, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday, urging the public to begin their prevention work early as the warmer months approach.

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The daily passenger volume on the Kaohsiung City MRT hit 499,000 on Sunday, a spokesman for the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) said yesterday.

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TOO YOUNG FOR SHOT: The first person to come down with the sickness this year was a one-month-old boy who had not yet been immunized
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Monday the first case of whooping cough to be reported this year.

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