Taiwan quick take

■ Crime
Man robs cash-transit van
A bank van that was delivering cash to a Chinatrust Commercial Bank branch on Nanking East Road yesterday morning was robbed by an armed robber, who got away with NT$2.06 million after shooting one of the drivers. The lone robber, described as wearing a long yellow plastic raincoat and a helmet, is believed to have hid somewhere near the elevator foyer of the bank building prior to carrying out the robbery. When the two drivers took the bag of cash to the bank at around 8:40am, the robber shot the guard and then made off with the cash in less than a minute. The guard that was shot was wounded in the leg. Police have cordoned off the crime scene and have started an investigation into the robbery.

■ Cross-strait ties
Liu in China with delegation
Former vice premier Liu Chao-hsuan (劉兆玄) arrived in Beijing on Sunday at the head of a high-tech delegation to promote "further scientific cooperation among Chinese societies around the world." Liu, chairman of the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of Taiwan, is heading a delegation from overseas Chinese associations in the US, Canada and Singapore. In addition to attending a symposium yesterday, Liu is expected to meet Zhou Guangzhao (周光召), vice chairman of the National People's Congress Central Standing Committee and vice president of Tsinghua University. Liu said Beijing's recent definition of direct links as a "cross-strait" rather than "domestic" route is similar to the concept of a "special cross-strait route" that he presented when he was minister of transpor-tation and communications.

■ Culture
NSO in birthday concert
The National Symphony Orchestra will give a concert led by conductor Gerard Akoka -- the orchestra's first permanent conductor -- at the National Concert Hall on Friday to celebrate its 16th birthday, a spokesman said yesterday. Akoka, currently the permanent conductor and artistic director of the Iraq National Symphony Orchestra, arrived in Taipei from France on Sunday in preparation for the performance. "This will be Akoka's first collaboration with the NSO since he left Taiwan 13 years ago," the spokesman said. Akoka is known for his delicate, emotion-charged renditions of classic masterpieces. He had impressed Taiwan musicians and audiences with his sophisticated integration of passion and performing skills during his three-year stint in Taiwan. Akoka will conduct the NSO in performing Austrian composer Anton Brukener's Symphony No. 8 in C minor in the Taipei concert.

■ Diplomacy
Scottish delegation arrives
Three members from the British Parliament's House of Commons who were elected from Scotland arrived in Taipei yesterday for a six-day visit. The Scottish delegation, headed by Irene Adams, chairwoman of the Committee on Scottish Affairs of the House of Commons, includes Frank Roy, a member of the Defense Committee of the House, and Rosemary McKenna, a member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee. Officials of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Scotland, which has been dubbed "Europe's Silicon Valley," has been dedicated to the development of high-tech industries during the last few years. In addition to offering incentives to attract foreign capital in the development of high added-value and knowledge-based industries.
Agencies