■ Computers
HP to offer Linux
Hewlett-Packard Co (HP), the world's second-largest computer maker, has announced plans for what it says is the world's first notebook computer from a major manufacturer using the open-source Linux operating system. HP made the announcement on Tuesday at the LinuxWorld conference in San Fran-cisco. Pricing will begin at US$1,140. The move opens a door to the rival of the Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system. "Linux is a key part of the HP Adaptive Enterprise strategy as it is central to HP's unique approach to IT standardization," said Martin Fink, vice president of Linux at HP. The computer also will be equipped with OpenOffice, an open-source software program that includes word processing and other functions. HP is also including the Linux in its fastest servers to court large companies that are trying to cut computing costs.
■ Software
Microsoft update ready
Microsoft Corp is close to releasing the biggest update ever for the Windows operating system, aiming to plug holes that have led to massive security problems for computer users the world over. Microsoft senior product manager Matt Pilla said late Wednesday that it is expected to release the update for Windows XP, called Service Pack 2, "in the coming days." He would not be more specific. The update comes in response to a series of Internet viruses and other attacks that have slowed businesses and hurt consumers. Service Pack 2 bolsters security on a number of fronts. Among the changes, it automati-cally turns on a firewall to better guard against bids to infiltrate personal compu-ters. The update also fortifies protections on the Internet Explorer browser and offers tougher policing against e-mail-borne attacks.
■ IPO
Google admits bad move
Google Inc may have illegally issued more than 23 million shares of its stock to hundreds of employees and consultants, injecting an unexpected legal risk into the online search engine leader's highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The company disclosed the possible violations on Wed-nesday in a prospectus offering to buy back the affected shares and out-standing stock options for a total of US$25.9 million, including interest payments. During that time, the com-pany says it neglected to register 23.2 million shares of common stock and 5.6 million outstanding stock options with securities regulators. The oversights might have broken federal and state laws, according to the filing. The stock is owned by 1,105 current and former employees, and consultants. Google warned that its buyback offer may be rejected by some people who prefer to sue.
■ Retail
US online sales strong
US online retail sales are on a strong growth track, and will likely hit US$316 billion by 2010, a technology research firm said on Wed-nesday. Forrester Research pegged US online sales at some US$144 billion this year, and sees a 14 percent annual growth rate that would bring the Internet sector to some 12 percent of retail sales, from less than 2 percent currently. US gover-nment data showed online sales at US$54.9 billion last year, representing about 1.6 percent of all retail sales last year. Forrester said online retail sales will make up 7 percent of the total for the US this year.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
CHINA POLICY: At the seventh US-EU Dialogue on China, the two sides issued strong support for Taiwan and condemned China’s actions in the South China Sea The US and EU issued a joint statement on Wednesday supporting Taiwan’s international participation, notably omitting the “one China” policy in a departure from previous similar statements, following high-level talks on China and the Indo-Pacific region. The statement also urged China to show restraint in the Taiwan Strait. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino cochaired the seventh US-EU Dialogue on China and the sixth US-EU Indo-Pacific Consultations from Monday to Tuesday. Since the Indo-Pacific consultations were launched in 2021, references to the “one China” policy have appeared in every statement apart from the
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from