A new potting medium made from rice straw has been found to have better water- retention capacity than sphagnum moss, which is usually used for growing moth orchids, a local researcher said yesterday.

The Special Investigation Division (SID) yesterday said the Taipei District Court's rulings on Lin Yi-shih (林益世), the former Cabinet secretary-general, and Lin's family were inappropriate and is appealing the verdict.

A woman apologized Tuesday for spreading a rumor that a Filipino worker in Taipei was allegedly refused service by a cafeteria owner angry with the Philippines over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman earlier this month.

The world table tennis championships pair yesterday called for private-sector support in nurturing local talents as part of boosting the long-term development of the sport in Taiwan.

Smartphone-toting tourists no longer have to wander the streets hoping to stumble upon a Wi-Fi signal. The Tourism Bureau yesterday launched two free networks — iTaiwan and TPE-Free — for foreign tourists in Taiwan to enjoy the Internet.

The Aviation Safety Council (ASC) published its investigation yesterday regarding a TransAsia Airways accident last May where the cabin crew did not inform air traffic controllers that the aircraft's engine had caught on fire.

The government is moving toward abolishing Taiwan's southern boundary for fishery protection, an act which would extend the formal operational area of the Navy, the Coast Guard and local fishermen further south within Taiwan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) toward the Philippines.

Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵) and Chen Chien-an (陳建安) will each receive NT$900,000 (US$30,033.56) from Taiwan's government in recognition of their historic win of the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships early Monday.

The Philippines said Monday that it would make “coordinated efforts” with Taiwan to look into the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman but stopped short of a joint investigation.

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday said that it will conduct a second round of nationwide inspections for illegally operating hotels.