FOCUS: William Murray of the US Naval War College has said the Taiwanese military should abandon its naval and air forces and devote resources to the army instead
By Ko Shu-ling
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday told a military ceremony that blocking the enemy in the Taiwan Strait was key, following remarks by a US professor that Taiwan should abandon its naval and air forces.

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By Jenny W. Hsu
Taiwan will not seek World Health Assembly (WHA) observer status at next month’s WHO executive board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, adding that the nation would have a better chance of success by concentrating on May’s assembly.

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By Flora Wang
The legislature yesterday passed an amendment to the Criminal Code (刑法) to allow prison sentences of six months and under to be served through community service.

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NOT SATISFIED: Only the Council of Agriculture and Ministry of Education received approval ratings higher than 50 percent, the DPP’s poll center said
By Rich Chang
A year end opinion poll conducted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) found that 62 percent of respondents were unhappy with the Cabinet’s performance, while 66 percent hoped for a Cabinet reshuffle, the party said yesterday.

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By Lo Tien-bin
The airport fast-track service will be extended to senior foreign business leaders and leading academics, their spouses and family beginning tomorrow, in a government measure to attract international talent to Taiwan.

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TRAFFIC: Both cities are increasing MRT and bus service frequency to cope with the crowds expected to participate in the New Year's Eve extravaganzas
By Meggie Lu
Taipei City's New Year's Eve party countdown will start at 7pm, featuring local acts such as A-mei (張惠妹), Sodagreen, Mayday and S.H.E. The party will wrap up at 1am.

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By Shelley Shan
Those tempted to get up early to catch the first sunrise of the new year may be disappointed as the thick clouds hovering above the nation may obscure the view, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday.

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By Meggie Lu
Taiwanese retire 9.5 million cellphones a year, but starting on Jan. 15 people will be able to recycle their old mobiles — rather than stash them in the back of their drawers — and help save the environment, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.

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A Japanese man who had long been searching for his former nanny in Taiwan was finally reunited with her yesterday.

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HELP: The global service will serve as the ministry's one-stop window to contact foreign authorities should Taiwanese travelers need emergency assistance
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on Monday that it would open an emergency service center at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Thursday as part of its efforts to provide assistance to Taiwanese traveling overseas.

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LENDING A HAND: Liu Chao-shiuan said the government will ask companies to make pledges of higher energy efficiency and to set caps for carbon dioxide emissions
By Shih HsIu-chuan
The government will assist strategic industries battered by the global economic downturn to seek vertical integration with foreign corporations and horizontal mergers with their local counterparts to help them ride out the crisis, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday.

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FAIR SHARE: The amendment requires shareholders who want to own 10 percent, 25 percent or 50 percent of a holding’s shares to first ask the FSC for permission
By Flora Wang
Lawmakers yesterday approved an amendment to the Financial Holding Company Act (金融控股公司法), lowering the threshold at which major shareholders must report their stock possessions to the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC).

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By Flora Wang
The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced yesterday a nationwide training and certification project for potential host families of international students studying in Taiwan.

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■ ENVIRONMENT

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