SATISFACTORY: The KMT chairman said that in light of the warmer relations across the Strait, China would be unlikely to launch an attack against Taiwan
By Ko Shu-ling
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) described yesterday the meeting between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) as "satisfactory" and "successful," adding it was a demonstration of Taiwan's "soft power."

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LAWN: As the capitals discussed who the next envoy will be, TECRO screened a movie at Twin Oaks that received unanimous acclaim by those in attendance
Taiwan is consulting Washington on the appointment of its next representative to the US, Taipei's deputy representative to the US Tung Kuo-yu (董國猷) said on Friday.

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By Wei Yi-chia
President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) first visit with environmental activists since his inauguration on May 20 was marked by heckles yesterday.

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Attending a workshop on the environment yesterday, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) vowed to find a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability and encouraged dialogue between government agencies and environmentalists.

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By Jimmy Chuang
The legislature will review an amendment to the Law Governing Legislators’ Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法) proposed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Daniel Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) that calls for fines for government officials who fail to attend legislative meetings.

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By Shih Hsiu-chuan
While a great majority of the public is confident President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will do well on cross-strait issues, opinion is more divided when it comes to his ability to keep politics out of education and the judiciary, a survey showed.

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By Loa Iok-sin
Concerned with the rapid decline in the use of Hakka, especially among children in Taipei, the Taiwan Hakka Association for Public Affairs hosted a Hakka cultural contest yesterday to promote interest in the language.

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HARD PLIGHT: Several prominent politicians, including Annette Lu, urged the government to allocate more funds to promote women's affairs and social welfare
Social rights activists and politicians toppled a red-brick wall symbolizing the fears and concerns of female victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence to demonstrate their determination to protect and safeguard women's rights.

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World GAMES: Despite initial public resistance, an official voiced confidence that most firms could be persuaded to join the government campaign
The Kaohsiung City Government is stepping up inspections of public restrooms, including those frequently used by the public in private businesses, to help clean up the city ahead of the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung.

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By Tseng Hong-ru
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is launching a NT$5 billion (US$164.4 million) intelligent transportation system at the end of the year to facilitate smooth traffic on freeways and expressways.

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MANDARIN COURSES: The education ministry is working with several US colleges to attract US students to take part in its three learning programs
By Jenny W. Hsu
The Ministry of Education has set up new scholarship and study programs to attract more US students to study Chinese in Taiwan, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Washington announced yesterday.

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