■ China's economy
GDP to grow at 8.9 percent
China's economy is expected to grow 8.9 percent this year, slowing from 9.9 percent last year, the central bank's research department said in a report published yesterday. Annual growth in China's GDP will gradually slow from 9.2 percent in the first quarter of this year to 9 percent in the second quarter, 8.9 percent in the third and 8.7 percent in the fourth quarter, said the report, carried by the state-run newspaper China Securities Journal. The consumer price index, China's main gauge of inflation, is expected to be at about 2 percent this year, it said. China's economy expanded by 10.1 percent in 2004 but growth has been gradually slowing as the government attempts to rein in excess investment in real-estate projects and some industries, such as steel and cement.
■ Communications
KDDI to offer 3D maps
Japanese mobile operator KDDI unveiled plans yesterday to let users find their way to shops and restaurants by looking at 3-D satellite images on their cellphones. The service, to be launched at the end of next month, is an updated version of its already popular "EZ Navi-Walk" programming which uses the satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) and offers vocal guidance. The new version, equipped with a compression technology so as not to overload the system, offers three-dimensional images that show surrounding buildings and sidestreets or directions once one is inside a building. The feature is of particular use at intersections where two-dimensional graphics often result in errors. A cellphone user enters in a postal address, a telephone number or, in the case of public buildings such as a restaurant, business or store, the name.
■ Software
Microsoft sues in S Korea
Microsoft Corp filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging a set of punitive measures that South Korea's antitrust regulators imposed on the US software company for its alleged unfair business practices. The suit, filed with the Seoul High Court, has been widely expected as Microsoft said after the December ruling by the Fair Trade Commission that it would take the case to court. "Microsoft continues to believe that its actions are consistent with Korean law and have benefited Korean consumers and the Korean technology industry," the company said in a statement announcing its appeal. The ruling, which was finalized last month, said that Microsoft's practice of tying certain software to Windows was an abuse of its dominant position in the market.
■ Media
Bertelsmann plans disposal
German media giant Bertelsmann is making preparations to sell its music company holdings including a 50 percent stake in Sony BMG, the world's second-largest music group, a report said yesterday. The London-based Financial Times cited unnamed people briefed on the plans as saying the company has arranged for investment banks to prepare the disposals. It said the sale, worth an estimated 2 billion euros (US$2.4 billion), would help Bertelsmann fund a buy-back of all or most of the 25 percent stake held by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), its only outside investor. As well as the stake in Sony BMG -- the New York-based joint venture of Bertelsmann and Japan's Sony -- the German group is considering selling its wholly-owned BMG Music Publishing business, the FT said.
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
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
SHOT IN THE ARM: The new system can be integrated with Avenger and Stinger missiles to bolster regional air defense capabilities, a defense ministry report said Domestically developed Land Sword II (陸射劍二) missiles were successfully launched and hit target drones during a live-fire exercise at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County yesterday. The missiles, developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), were originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday last week, after the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday long weekend, but were postponed to yesterday due to weather conditions. Local residents and military enthusiasts gathered outside the base to watch the missile tests, with the first one launching at 9:10am. The Land Sword II system, which is derived from the Sky Sword II (天劍二) series, was turned