Taipei - China Mobile, China's largest cellphone company, signed a strategic alliance agreement with Taiwan's Far East Tone Wednesday, becoming the first Chinese firm to invest in Taiwan's telecommunications business.

The signing ceremony was in Hong Kong, while Far East Tone Chairman Douglas Hsu spoke to reporters in Taiwan via a video link.

Hsu said that China Mobile will pay 17 billion Taiwan dollars (524 million US) to buy 444 million shares of Far East, gaining 12 per cent stake and one board director's seat in Far East Tone.

Taipei - The World Health Organization (WHO) is allowing Taiwan to attend its annual assembly as an observer, marking progress in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation, a Taiwan official said Wednesday. Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan told parliament that the WHO has invited Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is to open May 18 in Geneva, as an observer.

The invitation was issued by WHO Secretary General Margaret Chan Tuesday, apparently because of improved ties between Taiwan and China.

Taipei - Taiwan Wednesday celebrated its first victory in its fight to rejoin international organizations after it was allowed to re-join the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer. The breakthrough is regarded as the result of improved Taipei-Beijing ties and pressure from the United States, Japan, the European Union and Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies and may pave the way for Taiwan's return to other international organizations.

WHO Secretary-General Margaret Chan invited Taiwan's health minister Yeh Chin-chuan to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA), opening in Geneva on May 18.

Taipei - Women in a southern Taiwan village are turning bras into face masks amid a shortage of the masks in shops after a swine-flu alert was declared, a news reports said Tuesday. Many women in Houbi in Tainan County are sitting before sewing machines to churn out colorful face masks made by cutting a bra in two and sewing elastic bands on each cup, the ERA cable television channel said.

Taiwan, which has yet to report a case of swine flu, issued an alert against the virus Sunday, setting off frantic buying of face masks.

Taipei - Taiwan on Tuesday was put on full alert against a possible swine flu outbreak by forming a command centre and ordering on-board inspection of passengers from North America before they disembark their planes. The Department of Health also instructed all cities and counties to set up their own centres to monitor possible cases.

Taipei  - A Taiwan m