STAYING PUT: Prosecutors detained Wu on May 6, although he claimed he had received no money for his role in a scheme to establish diplomatic links with Papua New Guinea
The Taiwan High Court yesterday rejected an appeal filed by Wu Shih-tsai (吳思材), a suspect involved in a controversial diplomatic fraud scandal, for his release.

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BLOOMS BROUHAHA: KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung said that a promise by the new president to set up a special flower production area was under threat
Lawmakers blasted several Cabinet officials yesterday for not accepting flowers from well-wishers, saying this had threatened the livelihoods of local farmers and flower retailers.

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BETTING BOOST: The idea of building casinos in Penghu has long been entertained as a way to reverse the islands' decline and boost tourist numbers
Citing its logistical advantages and a well-developed infrastructure, the Penghu County Government urged the new administration yesterday to make good on its pledge to permit casinos on the outlying island.

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By Jenny W. Hsu
The nation's top policymaker on relations with China, Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛), yesterday was evasive on the prospects for cross-strait relations, except to say that the administration was "cautiously confident" of achieving its goal of commencing weekend direct charter flights and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan by July.

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By Jenny W. Hsu
A key adviser to the king of Swaziland suggested on Thursday that the southern African monarchy should consider building diplomatic relations with China.

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The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus said yesterday that it is opposed to the new administration's planned fuel price hike next month without appropriate accompanying measures to mitigate the effects of the hike on the public.

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By Shih Hsiu-chuan
Executive Yuan Spokeswoman Vanessa Shih (史亞平) yesterday defended the government's plan to distribute the budget earmarked for local government public construction between counties and cities based on population size.

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REKINDLING WORK: Scientists hope that by sharing expertise gained from the 921 Earthquake with Chinese counterparts in Sichuan, scientific exchanges can flourish
By Meggie Lu
Aid offered in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake could help to rekindle official collaboration between scientists across the Taiwan Strait, the National Science Council (NSC) said at a press conference yesterday, adding that the nation also hopes to foster an array of academic exchanges in other fields.

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By Mo Yan-chih
The Taipei City Government was urged yesterday to repair buildings damaged by the 921 Earthquake and to inspect the earthquake-resistance capacity of 576 aging buildings at municipal schools to prevent disasters in Taiwan like those in the recent Sichuan earthquake.

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AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION: The nation is importing NT$200 million in time-release fertilizers every year, but now there is a domestically developed variety available
By Meggie Lu
Farmers and domestic green thumbs troubled by soaring fertilizer prices will be happy to know that a domestically produced time-release fertilizer has been developed, with the potential to help save money, the environment and a lot of labor, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said yesterday.

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Patients with kidney problems should refrain from consuming too much black tea, oolong tea and colas because of their high phosphate content, a renal specialist said yesterday.

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The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has launched a new service called LOCATE, which will help it track down Britons in the event of a crisis abroad, a press release from the British Trade and Cultural Office said yesterday.

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PRESSURE: Mao Ho-kwang was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London for his work in high-pressure science and related technology developments
Mao Ho-kwang (毛河光) of Academia Sinica has been elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London, the National Academy of the United Kingdom and one of the world's most prestigious scientific societies, Academia Sinica said yesterday.

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By Loa Iok-sin
Creating Hakka cultural regions, pushing for legislation of a Hakka basic law and promoting Hakka tourism are some of the policies the Council for Hakka Affairs plans to highlight, new council chairman Huang Yu-chen (黃玉振) said yesterday.

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By Mo Yan-chih
Taipei City's Fire Department promised to conduct a thorough inspection of protective clothing that failed during a drill on Thursday.

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