■ Robotics
Bipedal robot uinveiled
Japanese researchers yesterday unveiled the world's first two-legged walking robot capable of carrying a human being, which many hope could prove a boon to wheelchair-bound people and help move heavy goods on uneven land. The prototype robot, codenamed WL-16, took two years to develop in a joint project involving the Science and Engineering Department of Tokyo's prestigious Waseda University and robot-maker tmsuk, based in the southern Japanese city of Kita Kyushu. The battery-powered robot, basically an aluminium street cafe chair mounted on two sets of telescopic poles bolted to flat plate "feet," can move forwards, backwards and sideways while carrying an adult weighing a maximum of 60kg.
PHOTO: AFP
■ Philanthropy
Gates are No. 1 benefactors
Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda rank as the No. 1 philanthropists in Business Week magazine's second annual list of benefactors. The list also includes Dell Inc chief executive Michael Dell and his wife, Susan; PeopleSoft Inc chairman David Duffield and his wife, Cheryl; and former EBay Inc executive Jeffrey Skoll, the magazine said. Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, is the world's largest software company. Gates, the world's richest man, doubled his donation to prevent the spread of AIDS in India to US$200 million.
■ Macroeconomics
Japan confirms recovery
Japan's ever-cautious central bank yesterday confirmed what many economists have long been saying: the world's second largest economy is recovering thanks to robust exports. "Japan's economy is starting to recover gradually ... [and] is anticipated to continue recovering, albeit at a moderate pace," the Bank of Japan declared in its monthly report on recent economic and financial developments for November. "Exports are increasing and capital investment continues a gradual recovery," said the bank, although adding that housing construction remains sluggish and consumption is weak.
■ Music Industry
EMI offers rival bid
EMI Group PLC, the world's third-largest music company, said it had been notified that Time Warner Inc's board was considering a rival bid for Warner Music Group, the media giant's music unit. "Time Warner has tonight informed us that they are now considering a possible proposal from another party as an alternative to our own firm offer," EMI chairman Eric Nicoli said Thursday in a statement. The British company behind acts like Radiohead, Kylie Minogue and Norah Jones has reportedly offered Time Warner about US$1 billion in cash plus a stake of about 25 percent in a merged company for the music division of Warner Music Group. Time Warner's board met Thursday to discuss EMI's bid and an estimated US$2.5 billion offer from an investor group.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source