'MODUS VIVENDI': A spokesman said that Ma's remarks were merely comments on a changing foreign policy and that MOFA would map out an application plan
By Ko Shu-ling
The Presidential Office yesterday tried to downplay expectations after reports that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said that the country might join the World Health Assembly (WHA) next year, adding that it was the administration’s policy to work toward that goal.

[ FULL STORY ]

Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to Washington, Joseph Wu, was appointed in April last year. On Saturday, Wu left Washington after a turbulent period in Taiwan-US relations to return to Taipei, where he will resume his career as a professor at National Chengchi University. Shortly before his departure, Wu sat down with ‘Taipei Times’ Washington correspondent Charles Snyder and reflected on his tenure in the US, on US-Taiwan relations and on the challenges facing his successor
Taipei Times: As you look back, how would you rate your actions during the past year or so that you have been the de facto ambassador? What were your biggest problems? And your biggest accomplishments? What did you enjoy most?

[ FULL STORY ]

Taiwan’s new representative to the US, Jason Yuan (袁健生), said upon arriving in Washington on Monday that he expected the US government would eventually approve pending sales of defensive weapons to Taiwan and that he would restore mutual trust between the two sides.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shelley Shan
The Taoyuan-Shanghai route was the most popular weekend cross-strait charter flight service last month, while traffic on other routes fell drastically over the weeks, statistics released by the Civil Aeronautics Administration showed.

[ FULL STORY ]

IC PAIN: DPP lawmakers said the DOH had been aware of a possible conflict of interest for months, but only made it public on Monday to protect the premier
By Meggie Lu and Rich Chang
The National Health Insurance integrated-circuit (IC) card controversy that surfaced on Monday was resolved yesterday after TECO Electric and Machinery agreed to help the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) tide over its IC card contract gap, the bureau said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

'SMILING SUNSHINE': Diagnosed with brain cancer at 11 months old, Ma Han-chung remained optimistic and never let the disease stop him from realizing his dream
By Regina Hsu
Ma Han-chung (馬漢忠), a 15-year old Bunun Aborigine who has fought a 14-year battle against cancer, saw his dreams come true yesterday when an exhibition of his artwork opened in Taipei.

[ FULL STORY ]

The Ministry of the Interior on Monday finalized the income criteria for a housing subsidy program that will be launched next year to help young couples who do not own a home.

[ FULL STORY ]

INFLUENCE: KMT Legislator Alex Tsai rejected the media watchdog's argument that Delta Electronics should not have been allowed to acquire a stake in Elta Technology
By Flora Wang
A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator yesterday accused the National Communications Commission (NCC) of abusing its authority by requiring Elta Technology Co to deal with the matter of the stake held by Delta Electronics Inc within three months.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Ko Shu-ling
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday paid tribute to Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水) on the 77th anniversary of his death.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Jenny W. Hsu
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) was the best candidate to visit the Marshall Islands on behalf of the government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said yesterday after the pan-green camp called Hu the “runaway mayor” for being away when the city was struck by Typhoon Fung-wong last week.

[ FULL STORY ]

■ WEATHER