Taiwan, Asia | featured news

A 22-year-old man is arrested after stabbing a nurse during a bungled robbery and returning to profess his love, Taiwanese police say.

The Dalai Lama -- on a visit to Taiwan that includes prayers for recent typhoon victims -- has refuted China's claims that he is there for political reasons.

Two strong earthquakes hit between Japan's southernmost islands and the coast of Taiwan on Monday, both briefly prompting tsunami warnings, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said.

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.