■ Semiconductors
Intel announces new Xeon
Intel Corp introduced its latest microprocessor for server computers on Monday, one of a trio of new chips the world's biggest semiconductor maker is counting on to regain market share lost to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. The new chip, the Intel Xeon 5100, is the company's answer to AMD's Opteron processor, whose performance and power management have stolen share from Intel for more than three years. Intel says the new Xeon more than doubles the performance of its previous top-of-the-line server chip while drawing 40 percent less power.
■ Aviation
Boeing may cut Connexion
US aerospace giant Boeing said on Monday it may sell or disband its Connexion unit providing high-speed Internet service on airplanes, saying the service has been a disappointment. "Boeing has pursued the business vigorously, developing technology that has worked well and evolved into a useful product," the Chicago-based giant said in a statement. "However, the market for the service has not developed satisfactorily. Therefore, the company will be working in conjunction with customers to thoroughly evaluate the Connexion marketplace and business model to determine next steps."
■ Aviation
CEA announces purchase
China Eastern Airlines Corp, one of China's three biggest carriers, said yesterday it has agreed to buy 30 Airbus A320 jetliners to meet growing demand in booming Chinese air travel market. The airline didn't give a purchase price but said it would pay less than the 13.9 billion yuan (US$1.7 billion) total list price of the planes. China Eastern said it expects to receive the planes between May 2008 and November 2010. The announcement comes after the Chinese government said earlier this month that it has approved Airbus's plan to open an assembly plant for A320s in the eastern city of Tianjin.
■ Telecoms
NZ Telecom splits units
New Zealand Telecom announced yesterday that it would voluntarily separate its wholesale and retail businesses -- a day after the government introduced a draft law that would force it to do so and open its telephone network to Internet competitors. Telecom chairman Wayne Boyd said yesterday that separating the businesses would provide "transparent, non-discriminatory arrangements" for regulated services for both wholesale and retail customers. "The country expects world-class broadband services and our decision to reorganize our business is one more step towards ensuring healthy competition exists to provide that," he said.
■ Consumer goods
MSLO, Kodak ink deal
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc (MSLO) and Eastman Kodak Co announced a multiyear partnership yesterday to develop a line of branded personalized photo products under the domestic diva's signature. The collection, which ranges from invitations and stationery to photo books, is expected to make its debut in late September with a large selection of holiday offerings such as cards. "This partnership leverages the core strength of our two companies -- Kodak's high quality imaging and personal publishing products and MSLO's unique design aesthetic, `how-to' expertise and customer reach," said Susan Lyne, president and CEO of MSLO.
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
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
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
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