Taiwan authorities say a powerful earthquake has struck the southeastern part of the island.
Taiwan > National > National News

The finance committee of the Legislative Yuan yesterday completed a first reading on amendments to the Income Tax Act, sharply increasing four major consolidated personal tax deductions and allowing such deductions to be applicable in May 2009 when taxpayers file their 2008 returns.
Taiwan > Business

The Consumers' Foundation (CF) yesterday called for airlines to reduce passenger ticket fares for direct charter flights across the Taiwan Strait by 42 percent to reflect a sharp decrease in fuel oil costs, after such flights start operating on a daily basis starting from Dec. 15.
Taiwan > Business

Barack Obama Monday nominated his erstwhile political foe Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state, as he rolled out a muscular national security team rich in global political star power.
World > Americas

Indian investigators said on Monday the militants who attacked Mumbai had months of commando training in Pakistan, adding to rising tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours as recriminations mounted at home.
Asia > India

Thai protesters prepared to end their three-month occupation of the Prime Minister's office on Monday to consolidate their grip on the main airport ahead of a court verdict that could dissolve the elected government.
Asia > Thailand

European and Chinese industry activity slumped in November, Japanese officials said their economy was slowing rapidly and euro zone finance ministers gathered on Monday to discuss plans to curb recession.
Business > Global Markets

Venice suffered its worst flooding in 22 years on Monday as water in the Renaissance city stood more than 1.5 meters (five feet) deep before beginning to recede.
World > Europe

North Korea began restricting traffic through its border with South Korea on Monday - punishment for Seoul's hard-line stance toward the communist regime.
Asia > Korea

Militants in northwestern Pakistan attacked trucks ferrying supplies to NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Monday, killing two people and destroying a dozen vehicles, witnesses and police said.
Asia > Pakistan

The global financial crisis already has delayed some green energy projects, stoking fears that a shortage of investment money will lead to cheap and dirty decisions on new power plants, the U.N.'s top climate official said.
World > Europe

A Libyan ship heading to Gaza with 3,000 tons of humanitarian aid was ordered back Monday by the Israel navy, ending the most high-profile effort yet to break a blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.
World > Middle East

AIDS activists were skeptical of a pledge by China's government to fight discrimination against people with the disease, saying Monday the move would mean little without improvements in education to increase awareness and alter mindsets.
China > National News

A coal mine blast in northern China killed 15 miners and three rescuers died in a cave-in Monday morning.
China > Local News > Other