Taipei

Computer glitch causes chaos at Taiwan airport

Computer glitch causes chaos at Taiwan airportTaipei  - A computer breakdown at the Taipei international airport continued Tuesday, causing chaos with customs officers hand- recording departing passengers' data and passengers forming long queues, according to radio reports.

The computer glitch, which began at about 6:45 am Monday, continued Tuesday, prompting Immigration Minister Hsieh Li-kung to show up at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei to supervise repair work, Broadcasting Corp of China said.

Taiwan burglar nabbed after showing stolen watches to owner

Taiwan burglar nabbed after showing stolen watches to ownerTaipei  - A Taiwan watch thief has been arrested after sending the stolen expensive watches to their owner to estimate their value, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Tsai Chin-hsin, 37, broke into a house on December 28 in Hsinchu, west Taiwan, and made off with nine watches and some jewellery, the China Times reported.

Believing the watches might be quite expensive, he asked an associate identified by his surname, Chuang, to take the stolen timepieces to a watch shop in Hsinchu to be appraised.

Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves at record high in December

Taiwan FlagTaipei - Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves posted a month- on-month increase to a record high of 291.71 billion US dollars in December on interest and other gains, the Central Bank reported Monday.

"Our foreign exchange reserves stood at 291.707 billion US dollars as of end of December, up 11.022 billion dollars from the end of November," the bank said in a press statement.

It said the increase - the biggest in history - was mainly due to interest rate gains and a valuation increase of the euro, the Japanese yen and Swiss franc against the dollar.

Taiwan announces preliminary names for 2009 World Baseball Classic

2009 World Baseball Classic LogoTaipei - Taiwan, aiming at advancing to the top eight in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, on Monday announced the preliminary selection of players for the tournament.

The Chinese-Taipei Professional Baseball League announced the names of 48 players, including 11 who are playing for US teams and six playing for Japanese teams.

Wang Chien-ming, the Taiwan pitcher serving the New York Yankees, cannot play for Taiwan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic because Yankees refused to let him take leave.

Taiwan stocks start New Year surging nearly 5 per cent

Taiwan stocks start New Year surging nearly 5 per cent Taipei  - Taiwan stocks opened the New Year on Monday by surging nearly 5 per cent, on the government's economics stimulus plan, improved Taiwan-China ties and US and European stocks' surge.

The TAIEX benchmark index rose 134.04 points, or 2.92 per cent when the stock market opened at 9 am after being closed for four trading days since Wednesday for the New Year holidays.

By 10 am, the TAIEX had climbed 157.99, or 3.44 per cent, to 4,749.21.

Taiwan island seeks investors to create casino resort

Taiwan island seeks investors to create casino resort Taipei  - A Taiwan island is seeking investment to build itself into an international casino resort, a newspaper said on Monday.

The Penghu county government is seeking 30 billion Taiwan dollars (909 million US dollars) in private investment to help develop massive casino resorts, the Taipei Times quoted the cabinet's Public Construction Commission (PCC) as saying.

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