ASSISTANCE: The president's trip to two of the nation's allies in the South Pacific is the first by the head of state of Taiwan and aimed at encouraging local development
By Huang Tai-lin
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will embark on a five-day diplomatic trip to Palau and the Sol-omon Islands, with a stopover in Guam, at the end of this month, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

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By Wang Hsiao-wen
The European Parliament yesterday upheld a ban on arms sales to China, citing Beijing's threats against Taiwan as one of the key justifications for keeping the restrictions.

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MORE THAN WITNESSES?: The US Justice Department recently launched its own examination into abuse in Guantanamo and Iraq and will probe FBI involvement
The US Department of Justice has opened a wide-ranging investigation into reports from the FBI about the military's use of coercive and abusive tactics against prisoners held in US custody at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq, officials announced on Thursday.

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The threat of disease decimating survivors of Asia's tsunami has receded but aid agencies remain on their guard, the UN said yesterday as doctors reported children dying from pneumonia.

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