Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke waged a stout defense of their management of a US$700 billion financial bailout Tuesday, just one week after the administration abandoned the original strategy behind the rescue.
Business > Americas

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan formally announced yesterday a government plan to distribute NT$3,600 shopping vouchers to each of the nation's citizens early next year. He expects the NT$82.9 billion program will help stimulate domestic spending and economic growth.
Taiwan > National > National News

Pirates who seized a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million in crude oil anchored the ship within sight of impoverished Somali fishing villages Tuesday, while the U.S. and other naval forces decided against intervention for now.
Asia > Other

Congolese rebels said Tuesday they were pulling back their forces to allow talks with the army, whose soldiers were fleeing and even fighting their own allies as any lingering army control in the area disintegrated.
World > Africa

Taiwan will give each of its 23 million people shopping coupons worth more than US$100 in a bid to stimulate a flagging economy, the island's premier said Tuesday.
Taiwan > Business

The owner of a Saudi oil supertanker hijacked by Somali pirates over the weekend said the 25 crew members are safe and the ship is fully loaded with crude - a cargo worth about $100 million at current prices.
World > Middle East

China has put a cloud over talks in India by exiled Tibetan leaders on the future of the Himalayan region, saying any moves to separate Tibet from China will fail.
China > National News

The two top salesmen for the $700 billion financial bailout are in for a grilling by U.S. lawmakers just one week after the Bush administration officially ditched the original strategy behind the rescue.
Business > Americas

Half the world's population could face a shortage of clean water by 2080 because of climate change, experts warned Tuesday.
Life > Environment

South Korea called Tuesday for talks with North Korea on restarting tours to a jointly run scenic resort in the North - despite Pyongyang's recent threat to ban all traffic over their shared border amid escalating tensions.
Asia > Korea

A crowd of 1,000 people stormed a local Communist Party headquarters in northwest China, smashing cars and clashing with police following a land dispute, government officials said Tuesday.
China > Local News > Other

Yahoo Inc. co-founder Jerry Yang is stepping down as chief executive, ending a rocky reign marked by his refusal to sell the Internet company to Microsoft Corp. for $47.5 billion - more than triple Yahoo's current market value.
Business > Company Focus

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has joined several international economic research organizations to predict that the growth rate of Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) will slow down to under 2 percent to reach a low level of 1.3 percent in 2009.
Taiwan > Business

Former President Chen Shui-bian, currently on a hunger strike, appealed the Taipei district court order on his detention yesterday.
Taiwan > National > National News

A powerful earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia early Monday, killing at least four people, damaging hundreds of homes and briefly triggering a region-wide tsunami warning, officials said as they surveyed the damage.
Asia > Indonesia

Iraqi lawmakers on Monday opened debate on a pact with the United States that will allow U.S. forces to remain for three more years, and neighboring Syria criticized the security agreement as a virtual surrender to American interests.
World > Middle East