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Taipei - Taiwan stocks fell more than 2 per cent Monday despite government measures to stabilize the stock market amid global jitters.

The TAIEX index plunged more than 3 per cent in mid-session trading but closed at 5,020.44, down 110.27 points or 2.15 per cent from the last trading day.

The plunge occurred despite the Taiwan government's announcement of three measures to shore up the stock market.

The new measures including limiting stocks' rise or fall to 3.5 per cent, down form the previous 7 per cent in any trading session, extending the ban on short-selling and continuing to use the National Stabilization Fund to continue to intervene in the market.

Taipei - Taiwan stocks plunged more than 3 per cent Monday despite government measures to stabilize the stock market amid global jitters.

Two hours into trading, the TAIEX index had fallen 156.22 points, or 3.04 per cent, to 4,974.71.

The plunge occurred despite the Taiwan government's announcement of three measures to shore up the stock market.

Taipei - A species of rare land crab has been spotted in Taiwan, marking the third time in world history that this type of species has been observed by scientists, a newspaper said on Sunday.

The sesarmid crab, named labuanium trapezoideum, was spotted in the Kenting National Park in south Taiwan, the Taipei Times reported.

The park's biologists said that the species was first spotted on Andaman Island, Indonesia, in 1837 and biologists did not find another such crab until 166 years later.

In 2003, a group of biologists found several labuanium trapezoideum crabs in Taitung County, southeast Taiwan, and made detailed records of their biological and behavioral characteristics, which was later published in the science journal Crustaceana.

Taipei - A Taiwan woman is so good at matchmaking that in the past 30 years, she had helped 573 couples tie the knot, a newspaper said on Sunday.

Lee Hsiu-yen, 57, in Pingtung City, south Taiwan, is a full-time fruit seller and part-time matchmaker. In the past 30 years, she has helped 573 couples tie the knot, averaging 19 couples each year, the United Daily News said.

Out of these 573 couples, only five pairs have divorced.

While most of marriage seekers come from Taiwan, she has offered service overseas-based Taiwanese.

Taipei- Taiwan on Saturday reiterated its wish to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vice President Vincent Siew made the statement while attending an internatinoal seminar on how to help Taiwan participate in ASEAN activities.