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 - The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) is to launch its fifth bond issue in Taiwan to raise funds for economic development in Central America, Taiwan's Central Bank said Thursday.

CABEI has applied to issue Taiwan-dollar bonds worth 7 billion Taiwan dollars (225 million US dollars), and the Central Bank has given it permission to issue the bonds before September 2010, the Central Bank said in a statement.

CABEI has not announced the date for the bond issue.

Since 1997, CABEI has launched four Taiwan-dollar bond issues in Taiwan, worth 17.8 billion Taiwan dollars.

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 and China plan to hold talks in October to sign a pact on launching direct shipping and cargo charter flights across the Taiwan Strait, an official said Tuesday.

After a meeting in Beijing in May which led to launching weekend charter flights on July 4, Taiwan's top negotiator Chiang Ping-kun and his Chinese counterpart Chen Yunlin are expected to hold their second roundof talks in Taipei, Kao Kung-lien, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, told a seminar.

Taipei - Taiwan Tuesday issued a sea warning for vessels sailing through the Bashi Channel and waters near the southern coast of the island as Typhoon Nuri was approaching.

"We have issued a sea warning against Nuri, which is gaining strength and heading towards Taiwan," said a forecaster of the Central Weather Bureau.

He said the outer rim of the typhoon was expected to reach Taiwan later Wednesday and by Thursday morning Nuri could hit the southern island if it stays on its current course.

Taipei - Taiwan's stockmarket plunged 2.72 per cent Monday amid bearish sentiment triggered by foreign fund outflows and a money laundering scandal allegedly implicating former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian and his family, dealers said.

The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange, which opened lower with weak momentum, extended its downward trend to end at 7,000.74, a plunge of 195.76 points or 2.72 per cent, from the previous trading session.