New Zealand prepared for further destruction on Sunday as aftershocks and an approaching storm threatened an area hit by the most devastating earthquake in decades.

Taiwan's National Fire Agency is closely monitoring the situation in New Zealand after a powerful earthquake occurred there Sept. 4 and is ready to send a search-and-rescue team if necessary, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) said yesterday.

The Philippines' national police chief took the blame for the botched bus hijacking rescue attempt last week that killed eight Hong Kong tourists at a Manila park, announcing his decision to retire early from the service.

The government's two largest labor funds saw their stock investment losses narrow in July from June, due to rallies in markets across the globe, the funds' operating committee reported recently.

An official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) clarified yesterday that employees of government-owned enterprises will not be given performance bonuses if the companies lose money during the preceding year.

The Basque separatist militant group ETA declared a cease-fire in a video statement issued on Sunday, suggesting it might turn to a political process in its quest for independence.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin yesterday asked the Taipei Prosecutors office to look into claims that officials played inflated prices for flowers to decorate Taipei City's Xinsheng (New Life) elevated expressway, in a bid to dispel public doubts over the controversy.

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction in New Zealand's second largest city of Christchurch Saturday, with officials saying it was "extremely lucky" no one was killed.

The take-off of a plane, which was due to leave Taiwan for Australia on Friday night, was delayed for three hours following a hoax bomb threat.

Amidst widespread public fury over judges who have shown clemency to child molesters by handing out lenient sentences, the Judicial Yuan responded yesterday by pushing for a new amendment that categorizes all sexual activity with minors under the age of seven as a serious rape charge, punishable by a minimum of seven years of imprisonment.

The development of the Central Taiwan Science Park's Houli branch is expected to be restored legally based on a new environmental impact assessment (EIA), although the government has lost a lawsuit over a previous EIA that was considered flawed, Premier Wu Den-yih said yesterday.