The so-called “luxury tax,” aimed at preventing speculative real estate investments, will be reviewed for possible changes in June, Finance Minister Chang Sheng-ford (張盛和) said yesterday.

Shares in Taiwan took a beating to close below 8,300 points Thursday amid fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve will make an early exit from its current quantitative easing after sending mixed messages on the issue, dealers said.

Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) yesterday apologized to the public over two recent Air Force fighter crashes that occurred within five days of each other.

The Air Force will increase its patrols over waters around the country's southern coast, Air Force Commander Gen. Liu Chen-wu said yesterday.

City sidewalks just got a whole lot safer. Students of the Taipei European School's French Section were presented yesterday with their “permis piéton,” the French term for pedestrian license, by the French Institute in Taipei (IFT), signifying their mastery of road safety and self-protection.

French fry chain store Ireland's Potato (愛爾蘭瘋薯) has been fined for using expired sauce in their products, according to New Taipei City's Public Health Department (PHD) yesterday.

Almost half of mothers in Taiwan are worried that their children will remain financially dependent on parents when they reach adulthood, according to the findings of a survey released recently.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) yesterday said in regard to the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman that the ministry and the Philippines have reached a consensus to conduct indirect questioning of relevant personnel.

The U.S. dollar rose against the Taiwan dollar Thursday, gaining NT$0.065 to close at NT$30.025 as foreign institutional investors shifted to the sell side of the local market, which lifted demand for the greenback, dealers said.

The Financial Supervisory Commission yesterday imposed fines of NT$8.4 million against insurance carrier Singfor Life (幸福人壽), citing six counts of major infractions.