UNFAIR BURDEN: The legislature also passed an amendment to the Civil Code to help those who inherit more debt than assets from deceased family members
By Flora Wang
The legislature approved an amendment yesterday to the Children and Juvenile Welfare Law (兒童及少年福利法) that would introduce fines for anyone who encourages children or teenagers to commit suicide.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Jenny W. Hsu
None of the nation’s four African allies are severely affected by the recent surge in worldwide food prices, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) said yesterday, adding that the nation would work to help those of its allies still struggling economically.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Jimmy Chuang
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators said yesterday that letting Chinese investors manipulate the nation’s real estate market would raise prices and that more and more people, especially from the younger generation, would not be able to afford homes.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Ko Shu-ling
The last military simulation drill of President Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) presidency began yesterday, with president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) not in attendance.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Mo Yan-chih
President-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) promised technology tycoons yesterday he would relax the cap on investment in China as a priority after his inauguration on May 20.

[ FULL STORY ]

CRUEL JOKE: Authorities said that the two junior high students had shown remorse for what they did and promised to serve as volunteers for animal welfare
By Flora Wang
Two Kaohsiung junior high school students who burned a puppy to death on campus were caught after a local animal charity offered a reward.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shelley Shan
Pang Jia-hua (龐家驊), the director-general of the Bureau of High Speed Rail, yesterday asked the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) to either increase the number of trains or cabins to handle the growing demand for unreserved seating.

[ FULL STORY ]

BAMBOO UNION: Taipei police said they suspected that the shooting of a Hungjenhui clique leader by a rival group may trigger revenge attacks
By Rich Chang
Taipei police said yesterday they were investigating a gunfight between two rival gangs of the Bamboo Union (竹聯幫) and hoped to prevent further outbursts of violence.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Rich Chang
Taipei prosecutors said yesterday they suspected that Fubon Financial Holding Co chief investment officer Daniel Chiang (蔣國樑) had fled the country.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shih Hsiu-chuan
Taiwanese director Chen Wen-pin (陳文彬) accepted the Platinum Award at the 41st WorldFest Houston International Film Festival in the culture category on Sunday for his work A Thousand Years of Atayal (泰雅千年), a film documenting the life and culture of the Atayal tribe.

[ FULL STORY ]

COOPERATION: Singapore has set preconditions to an FTA deal, insisting that issues involving trade should not be politicized, in talks that started eight years ago
Amid speculation that talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and Singapore might restart soon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday refused to comment on whether there was any progress in resuming negotiations.

[ FULL STORY ]

FORUM: Former Australian prime minister John Howard currently serves as the chairman of the organization, which said Taiwan should serve as a political example
The International Democrat Union (IDU) expressed high hopes for the stability of the Asia-Pacific region and better relations across the Taiwan Strait with president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) taking office soon, according to a statement approved by the IDU’s Executive Committee on Monday.

[ FULL STORY ]

Ship-borne activists said yesterday they had targeted fishing boats from South Korea, Taiwan and the US in high-seas protests against the “plundering” of tuna in the Pacific.

[ FULL STORY ]

■ TRADE

[ FULL STORY ]