■ War in Iraq
Students begin protests
A student group began anti-war activities on Wednesday in front of National Taiwan University. Su Shan-suan (蘇珊玄), a member of the Anti-Imperialism Student Organization of Taiwan, said that the group will lead anti-war activities every day from 5pm to 7pm. The activities will include speeches, seminars and the handing out of anti-war fliers. Su, a student of Shih Hsin University, said that her organization was formed by students from various universities and colleges. She said the activities are designed to raise awareness of people in Taiwan. After collecting anti-war signatures in the streets for several days, Su said that she discovered that people in this country have a better understanding of international affairs then they had previously thought.
■ War in Iraq
Rice to be sent as aid
The Council of Agriculture will donate 5,000 tonnes of rice as part of a humanitarian aid package for Iraq, a council official announced on Wednesday. Council Vice Chairman Lee Chien-chuan (李建全) said the council made the decision to send the rice after being informed of food shortages in some areas of the war-torn country. The 5,000 tonnes of rice has a market value of about NT$100 million (US$2.89 million), he said. Lee said that the government donates some 100,000 tonnes of rice every year as part of its humanitarian aid to other countries.
■ Crime
Police seize pirated discs
A factory producing counterfeit discs in Taipin, Taichung County was uncovered by police Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, police raided the factory and found two packing machines and 190,000 forged video compact discs and audio compact discs, with a street value of more than NT$67 million (US$1.94 million). Four persons working at the factory were referred to prosecutors for investigation. Also on Wednesday, police in Sanhsia, Taipei County, seized 130,000 pornographic video discs in an uninhabited house.
■ Education
Hakka institute to be created
Lian Ho University plans to set up a graduate research institute for Hakka culture in August, university president Chin Tsung-shune (金重勳) told the Taipei Times yesterday. Based in Maio Li, the 4,300-student university has so far received NT$10 million in funds from the Council for Hakka Affairs to set up the institute -- the second in the country. Last year, Chung Li's National Central University set up a similar institute. Lian Ho University plans to set up two graduate schools in the institute, a school of Hakka language and history, and a second school to examine the development and renaissance of the Hakka community in Taiwan.
■ Trade
British official to visit
British Minister for Small Business Nigel Griffiths is slated to reach Taipei tomorrow for a four-day visit in what is seen as an attempt to boost London-Taipei business partnership, the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) said yesterday. Griffiths' visit comes a week ahead of the annual meeting of the Taiwan Britain Business Council, which is scheduled to take place in Taipei on April 8 at the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, the BTCO said in a press release. Griffiths is slated to meet with Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi (林信義), officials at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, according to the BTCO.
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