Taiwan welcomes reported remarks from the Philippine president that his government is open to discussing a possible fishery agreement to cover overlapping waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.

The Department of Health (DOH) is expected to provide clinical services for victims who were affected by food containing illegal starch as well as help ease public anxiety over the latest scandal involving a range of popular food items in the local market.

Main opposition party Legislators Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) and Wu Yi-jen (吳宜臻) yesterday slammed a draft amendment of regulations concerning the retirement and pension of political appointees, claiming it is a self-beneficial act for Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) and other politicians who double as college professors.

Eleven crew members were rescued yesterday after a Taiwanese fishing boat caught fire in waters near Mauritius on May 19, but the search continues for two missing fishermen, a Taiwanese fishery official said yesterday.

In addition to the support shown by the main opposition party for President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) also asked DPP party members to withdraw their signatures from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) petition aiming to impeach Ma.

I-Mei Foods (義美食品) has allegedly used expired ingredients in its food making process — a criminal act that will be investigated by local health departments, Food and Drug Administration Director-General Kang Jaw-jou (康照洲) said yesterday.

All parts of Taiwan are likely to see heavy rainfall as a stationary weather front continues to affect the country, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday.

A total of 13 earthquakes struck Eastern Taiwan and nearby seas between 12:21 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. yesterday, with the largest one registering 5.8 on the Richter scale, according to Central Weather Bureau data.

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.