■ Mitsubishi recalls more cars
Mitsubishi Motors Corp, a Japanese automaker plagued by recurring recalls, has announced another recall of 179,000 cars because of a defect in the air-conditioning system that has injured at least two people. Mitsubishi Motors' reputation has been badly tarnished after acknowledging five years ago it had systematically hidden auto defects for decades. Since then, it has issued several recalls, further driving down sales and hampering attempts to revive the company. The latest recall -- reported to the government on Tuesday -- covers three sedan models, including the Galant, manufactured from 1996 to last year. A wiring defect in the air conditioning fan can cause a fire in the glove compartment, the automaker said yesterday.
■ Macroeconomics
US trade deficit at new high
The US trade deficit climbed to new highs in February to reach US$61.0 billion as the world's biggest economy sucked in ever more imports, the government said on Tuesday. The unprecedented figure surprised Wall Street, which was expecting a February deficit of US$59 billion. The US Commerce Department revised up the January trade deficit to US$58.5 billion from the US$58.3 billion given last month. The February figure surpassed the previous high set in November of US$59.3 billion. The widening shortfall in the US trade performance was fueled by a 1.6 percent rise in imports of goods and services, which totalled a record US$161.5 billion in February. Exports were essentially flat, rising 0.1 percent to a record US$100.5 billion. There was some good news in the regional breakdown with the politically sensitive US trade deficit with China shrinking to US$13.9 billion in February, from US$15.3 billion in January. Imports of Chinese textiles, however, rose 9.8 percent to US$2.08 billion in the month.
■ Music
Apple takes iTunes to Japan
Apple Computer Inc, the maker of iPod digital music players, plans to start an online music store in Japan this year, the Mainichi newspaper reported, citing a Tokyo-based executive. Apple Japan Inc is negotiating with major record companies to launch its iTunes music distribution service, said Vice President Yoshiaki Sakito, according to the report. Sony Corp already offers music on its Mora Web site, while Japanese record companies such as Avex Group Holdings Inc are planning to set up their own online businesses.
■ Trade
Australia eager for FTA
The time is now for Australia to strike a free trade deal with China, the trade minister said yesterday, fanning speculation that formal negotiations will begin when Prime Minister John Howard visits China next week. "I believe the time is right to move into FTA negotiations with China," Trade Minister Mark Vaile said at the National Press Club in Canberra. Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Ma Xiuhong (馬秀紅) reportedly said last month Beijing wanted a trade deal with Australia to prevent sharp increases in iron ore and energy prices, and to lock out future competitors for Australian resources. A recent 71.5 percent hike in the price of Australian iron ore has become a major issue for China, which overtook Japan last year as Australia's biggest iron-ore customer. Vaile said his government's refusal to curb iron ore price increases wouldn't harm prospects for a free trade agreement between Australia and China.
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
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
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