IMAGE PROBLEMS: KMT legislators criticized Cabinet members for being hard-faced and said they should show more compassion and be more humble in public
By Mo Yan-Chih
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators yesterday urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) to make the government more efficient, build up the public’s confidence in the nation and to strengthen their relations with party members.

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By Ko Shu-Ling
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday that he had no intention of taking the helm of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), but it would be worth discussing whether the president should be allowed to also serve as party chairman after KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung’s (吳伯雄) term expires in May.

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By Jenny W. Hsu
Taiwan must become a more active player in resolving global challenges such as poverty and gender discrimination, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday, adding that future foreign aid projects should be conducted in a transparent manner to shake off the nation’s “checkbook diplomacy” image.

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By Ko Shu-Ling And Shih Hsiu-Chuan
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday declined to comment on whether government officials should apologize or step down to take responsibility for the damage and deaths caused by Typhoon Sinlaku. Instead, he said that the government would complete an investigation within a week.

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VOICES OF THE PEOPLE: One suggestion posted on the site suggested setting a floating salary pricing system for ministers, much like the oil pricing system
A government Web site that aims to encourage the public to contribute ideas on how to boost the nation’s economy has drawn praise and criticism alike from the public and lawmakers.

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DAIRY DILEMMA: The party said the health department failed to do its job and demanded that the government lodge a protest with China under the WTO framework
By Loa Iok-Sin

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) has assembled a seven-member panel of attorneys to assist victims of melamine-contaminated milk powder in seeking compensation from the Chinese manufacturer and Taiwanese importer of the product, the party said yesterday.

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A guide dog foundation yesterday appealed to dog lovers to join a program to host guide dog puppies and nurture them into valuable companions for visually impaired people.

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Following the phenomenal success of a local film set in southern Taiwan, the government plans to revise regulations to provide better incentives for the domestic film industry, Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Vanessa Shih (史亞平) said yesterday.

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VACANCIES: The ministry plans to limit the number of students at graduate schools to ensure that those who get accepted receive better education
By Flora Wang
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday it would ban graduate schools from increasing their number of new recruits to ensure education quality.

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By Flora Wang
The Kaohsiung City Government is presenting a bicycle carnival tomorrow as part of this year’s World Carfree Day activities.

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SOVEREIGN NATION: The Geneva court has confirmed that Taiwan possesses all the elements of statehood, and can therefore sue the ISO to correct its designation
A court in Geneva has confirmed Taiwan’s eligibility to sue the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for referring to Taiwan as part of China, a Taiwanese official posted in Switzerland said on Wednesday.

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The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) will hold a ceremony on Sunday to inaugurate the Orange Line of the city’s metro system, a senior KRTC official said yesterday.

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A group of researchers at National Cheng Kung University Hospital found a genetically engineered enzyme capable of inhibiting fatal encephalitis caused by the HSV-1 strain of herpes, physicians at a Tainan-based hospital said yesterday.

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By Ko Shu-Ling and Jimmy Chuang
Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) office yesterday denied that former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) had asked for a day of sick leave before today’s court hearing on Chen’s corruption charges concerning his “state affairs fund.”

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■CULTURE

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