■ Semiconductors
Micron Tech moves up
Micron Technology Inc of the US probably overtook South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor Inc as the world's second-largest computer-memory chipmaker during the third quarter, market researcher IDC said. Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co retained its spot as the world's largest maker of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips, said Kim Soo Kyoum, IDC's semiconductor analyst in Seoul, in an interview. Icheon-based Hynix slid to third from second and Germany's Infineon Technologies AG remained fourth-largest producer, said Kim, citing a preliminary tally.
■ Auto industry
Low demand for hybrids
The DaimlerChrysler concern has dampened optimism on hybrid technology, saying that it expected demand for the combination of combustion engine and electric motor to remain small. Thomas Weber, head of Daimler-Chrysler research, says that one year after the debut of the F 500 eight-cylinder diesel and electric hybrid, the electric motor saved about 10 percent and the automatic generation of energy through the brake system saved another 5 percent to 7 percent, Weber said. However, in actual daily use these results could not be achieved, Weber said. Especially on long country trips the additional weight of the hybrid led to higher fuel consumption.
■ Credit cards
Card suppliers to be charged
New Zealand regulators are filing criminal charges against eight credit card suppliers, including five major banks, for allegedly charging hidden fees for offshore transactions, the competition watchdog said yesterday. The charges follow an investigation into the failure of credit card providers to fully disclose to their customers their fees for currency conversions on overseas transactions, the Commerce Commission said. Local media said up to US$24 million of overcharged fees had been racked up in the past year.
■ Communications
Vodafone starts 3G services
The British mobile telecommunications operator Vodafone launched mass-market third-generation mobile phone services yesterday in 12 countries, providing customers with music downloads, film clips and video games on the move. Vodafone's basic 3G package offers 500 voice minutes, 100 text messages and 50 video calling minutes, as well as unlimited film, news and sport video clips, for £40 (US$74) per month. For £60 per month, subscribers can add on a further 500 minutes. Songs cost £1.50 (US$2.73) to download.
■ Insurance
Lay-offs after scandal
Marsh & McLennan, the largest US insurance brokerage, said it will lay off 3,000 employees, or about 5 percent of its work force, because of fallout from a bid-rigging scandal that has engulfed the insurance industry. Marsh & McLennan made the announcement on Tuesday as it reported that third-quarter earnings plummeted 94 percent, a drop the company blamed in large part on having to set aside money for settlements. The company also announced that it reached a tentative US$40 million agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle allegations of questionable brokerage practices at its Putnam operation.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique