TAIWAN’S ruling Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution yesterday asserting the island’s separate identity from rival China and calling for a referendum on Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Ocean water, long believed to have come from icy comets beyond Neptune, may have originated in asteroids found in warmer regions much closer to Earth, according to astronomers in Hawaii.

The Taiwanese birds said to have infected a parrot in Britain with bird flu were inspected for flu before leaving the island and received a clean bill of health, a Taiwanese official said today.

The worst period of China-Taiwan tension has passed, but Taipei will still keep a wary eye on Beijing, the Taiwanese premier said today.