■ Trade
Microsoft plan rejected
The Fair Trade Commission has returned Microsoft's "administrative settlement" proposals because the settlement terms the company put forth have been deemed by the commission to be unsatisfactory, according to a commission official. The official said that the commission has demanded that Microsoft make supplementary terms and submit the revised proposals to the commission before Jan. 6. The commission began to investigate Microsoft's trade practices in Taiwan after receiving complaints from consumers and some legislators. On Oct. 31, the commission decided to allow Microsoft to seek an "administrative settlement," as long as it submitted satisfactory proposals within 30 working days. Upon receiving the proposals on Monday, the commission began soliciting opinions from government agencies, software dealers and consumer associations. The terms regarding selling prices and Microsoft's marketing approaches have been deemed by the commission to be unfair to consumers.
■ Transportation
Chen promises expressway
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday the government has decided to begin building a long-talked-about expressway linking Toucheng, Ilan County, to Hualien County late next year to boost development in eastern Taiwan. Addressing the inaugural ceremony for Hualien Ocean Park, Chen said eastern residents have been expecting the construction of an expressway for three decades, but the previous government had hesitated to build it for various reasons. In order to attract investment and boost economic development in the region, Chen said, his administration is determined to begin carrying out this landmark construction project late next year. The 86.5km, four-lane expressway will cost an estimated NT$96.2 billion (US$2.76 billion), Chen said.
■ Science
Researchers decode rice
Scientists in Japan and Taiwan will simultaneously announce a breakthrough in the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project in Tokyo and Taipei on Wednesday as the sequencing of the entire rice chromosome No. 1 was recently completed. A spokesman for the Academia Sinica Plant Genome Center said yesterday that scientists from Taiwan, Japan, the US, France, Britain, India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Brazil are taking part in the project, with Japan taking up half of the assignments. Initiated three years ago, the project is aimed at sequencing the entire rice genome. There are 12 chromosomes in rice, and scientists with the Academia Sinica Plant Genome Center have been working on the sequencing of rice chromosome No. 5, according to the spokesman.
■ Diplomacy
NY assemblyman honored
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bestowed a citation on New York State Assemblyman Robert Wertz Friday in appreciation for his staunch support and friendship toward the people of Taiwan. Andrew Hsia (夏立言), director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, presented a plaque to Wertz in a ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in New York City on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien. Scores of well-wishers, including Ivan Lafayette, acting speaker of the New York State Assembly, attended the event. Wertz is the most senior Republican in the New York State Assembly.Agencies
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