Taipei - Taiwan leads the world in the market share of 12 information and communication technology (ICT) products, with low-priced notebook personal computers
(PC) commanding 99 per cent of the world market, Taiwan radio said Friday.

The Broadcasting Corp of China (BCC), quoting the Institute for Information Industry, said that despite the global financial crisis, Taiwan maintains the lead in terms of market share of 12 ITC products in 2008.

They include low-priced notebook PCs, notebook PCs, motherboards, liquefied crystal display (LCD) monitors and colour tactical display (CDT) monitor, BCC said.

Taipei - Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian has gone on a hunger strike to protest against his detention over a corruption probe, as Taiwan's High Court upheld a seven-year prison sentence against his son-in-law, officials said Thursday.

"The ex-president has stopped eating since he was placed under custody at the Taipei Penitentiary Wednesday to show his protest against the authorities for political persecution," said his lawyer Cheng Wen-lung.

He said Chen did drink water and his health condition was fine so far.

Taipei - The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSEC) launched a Sharia Index Thursday to attract funds from Islamic countries and to help Taiwan break into Islamic nations' financial markets.

TSEC launched the TSEC Taiwan Sharia Index in conjunction with the FTSE Group - a London-based index company owned by the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange.

The TSEC Taiwan Sharia Index covers 68 medium and major stocks selected from FTSE's global equity index series and listed on TSEC.

Taipei - The

Taipei - A top US envoy in Taiwan Wednesday urged the island to fully allow imports of US beef products if the two sides are to further increase their trade relationship.

"Resuming imports of all US beef and beef products would further invigorate this important trading relationship," said Stephen Young, director of American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in Taipei.