FAVORS: ‘Next Magazine’ said SEF Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian was a paid consultant for a Chinese organization and tied him to a Fujian property deal
By Jenny W. Hsu and Flora Wang
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) yesterday came out in defense of Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉) in the wake of an allegation that he has been a paid consultant for a Chinese government organization for three years.

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By Ko Shu-ling
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to use the presidential jet to get around the country instead of public transportation, which it said tended to result in a waste of money and public resources.

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By Jenny W. Hsu
A second Cabinet official yesterday publicly apologized to Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) for possessing a foreign resident visa, but added that he had already started the process to relinquish his Filipino Special Resident Retiree Visa.

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Political appointees will be added to the list of officials required to undergo background checks before taking office if the Legislative Yuan approves a pending bill, an Investigation Bureau official said yesterday.

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By Ko Shu-ling
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday approved belt-tightening measures to help improve its financial situation, which has been adversely affected by its legislative and presidential election losses.

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Dispute: The foreign ministry said officials had visited the Taiwanese crew and fishermen who were detained in Ishigaki after their boat collided with a Japanese vessel
The government yesterday issued a statement asserting the nation’s claim over the Diaoyutai islands (釣魚台) and urging Japan to resume negotiations on fishing rights around the disputed islands.

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Mystery: The ministry promised to work with the police to find out the cause of the death of Yang Chun-sheng, an employee at the ministry
By Jenny W. Hsu
The Ministry of Education said yesterday it would cooperate fully with police in an investigation into the apparent suicide of an employee who fell to his death yesterday morning.

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Quarantine and disease prevention efforts will be strengthened as the nation prepares to open its doors wider to Chinese tourists, Department of Health Minister Lin Fang-yue (林芳郁) said yesterday.

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The Council of Agriculture is working on a plan to market the nation’s quality agricultural products to Chinese tourists, who are expected to visit Taiwan in greater numbers beginning next month.

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By Mo Yan-chih
Forty-seven “handicap-friendly” low-floor buses began operation in Taipei yesterday, with the city government promising to increase the number to 300 buses within three years.

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STICKING TO DETAILS: MOTC minister Mao Chi-kuo said that the potential investor and FAT must present evidence they have the capability to operate domestic flights
By Shelley Shan
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) confirmed yesterday that a Singapore-based firm is interested in taking over Far Eastern Airport Transport (FAT, 遠東航空), without disclosing the name of the firm.

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By Rich Chang
Taipei prosecutors said yesterday they are investigating a scandal involving financially strapped Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT, 遠東航空) officials who were suspected of bribing Chinese officials to win route rights in China.

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GOING UNDERGROUND: The company also agreed to join efforts with the city government’s energy-saving team and refrain from unannounced road construction
By Mo Yan-chih
Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) yesterday agreed to remove more than 800 transformer boxes from the streets of Taipei as well as adhere to other demands made by the Taipei City Government in return for the city’s support for the construction of four new substations.

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Two earthquakes, both of a magnitude of more than 5.0, rattled the south yesterday, with the epicenter of both located in Pingtung County, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

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■ CRIME

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