Taipei- The son and daughter-in-law of Taiwan's ex-president Chen Shui-bian Monday returned to the island to face a probe into alleged money laundering implicating the former leader.

The couple, listed as defendants along with the ex-leader and his wife Wu Shu-chen over their alleged roles in the scandal, insisted they knew nothing about a 20 million US dollar fund kept at their bank accounts set up by a Swiss bank in Cayman Islands.

Taipei  - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, in a speech to be delivered later Sunday, is expected to discuss broadening relations with China in an attempt to forge better relations between the two countries.

Ma is to speak at Kinmen Island, a Taiwan-held islet off China's southeastern coast, while attending a rally to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kinmen Battle.

Taipei - Taiwan's economic growth is seen going down to 4.3 per cent in 2008 from 5.7 per cent last year, due to slower exports, rising inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices, a government agency said Friday.

"While the GDP growth in the first quarter has been revised to 6.25 per cent, initial figures have showed a 4.32 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter," the Directorate General Budget, Accounting and Statistics said in a statement.

It said GDP growth in the third and fourth quarters were forecast at 3.04 per cent and 3.75 per cent, respectively, with whole year growth predicted at 4.3 per cent, the agency said.

Taipei - Taiwan's jobless rate rose to an 11-month high of 4.06 per cent in July, due mainly to the increase in the number of fresh graduates and students seeking summer jobs, the government statis

Taipei- Two Taiwanese who changed their names to Chen Shui-bian when he was president have switched back to their former names as Chen is being probed for money laundering, news reports said Tuesday.

Chen Poh-jen, 62, from Yungho City near Taipei, changed his name in 2000 to show support for the new president and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), cable TV channel TVBS reported.

Taipei  - Taiwan on Monday thanked Singapore for offering to help Taipei probe suspected money laundering by former president Chen Shui-bian.

"We are happy to see that Singapore is willing to provide legal assistance and to jointly fight cross-country crime," the Central News Agency (CNA) quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia as saying.

Hsia made the remark after Singapore's trade office announced that Singapore would assist Taiwan in probing the suspected money laundering by former president Chen and his family.