Taiwan | featured news

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday he accepts responsibility for the government's slow response after Typhoon Morakot slammed into the island killing at more than 120 people and unleashing floods, mudslides and misery.

Taiwan leaders already under fire for a perceived slow response to a typhoon that likely killed hundreds have begun accepting foreign aid after earlier refusing those offers, officials said on Saturday.

A mudslide triggered by torrential rains from a typhoon may have buried up to 600 villagers in mountainous southern Taiwan, disaster officials said on Monday.

People leave China's south-east coast and boats are called home as a typhoon nears that caused severe floods in Taiwan.

Thousands of opposition supporters protest against the Taiwan president's policies of engagement with China.

Taiwan and China signed agreements on financial cooperation, expanding air links across the Taiwan Strait and jointly fighting crime, in a move to improve further trade and economic relations.

Jackie Chan's comments that freedom may not be good for China were taken out of context, his spokesman said Tuesday, while Facebook users and Chinese scholars condemned the veteran actor on the Internet in a spreading backlash.

The practice gives workers some security but, over time, employee morale still suffers.

Taiwan hands out shopping vouchers to its citizens in a bid to stimulate the island's economy.