■SOFTWARE
Millions try Windows 7
Microsoft said more than 3 million customers are currently trying out its Windows 7 operating system software. Customers who downloaded the pre-release version of the operating system or installed it from a compact disc have provided a list of 175 points for the company to review, Eddie Wu (吳勝雄), general manager for Microsoft’s Original Equipment Manufacturing division in Asia, said yesterday in Taipei. Microsoft said on May 11 it would release Windows 7, its newest operating system, before the year-end holidays. Sales in its Windows division may get a boost from the new platform after revenue suffered as consumers delayed updating to Windows Vista which was released to consumers in 2007. Taiwan’s Acer Inc (宏碁), the world’s third-largest computer supplier, and Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), maker of the Eee PC low-cost notebook, are among vendors who’ve backed Windows 7 and say they’ll release products supporting the new platform.
■RETAIL
Times Square gets revamp
Visitors to New York’s Times Square will no longer have to dodge taxis if they want to stop in the middle of the street to stare at its iconic neon lights. On Sunday, authorities blocked of the notorious traffic clogged intersection that will become a pedestrian zone, with only walkers, cyclists and skaters allowed on Broadway between 42nd and 47th streets. The move is designed to free up space for street artists, cafes and vendors and improve the area for New Yorkers and tourists alike. A second pedestrian zones opened on Herald Square in front of Macy’s department store, the center stage of the US’ most famous Thanksgiving holiday parade.
■AVIATION
Qantas cuts first-class seats
Australian airline Qantas said yesterday it is cutting first-class services on some international flights because of fall in demand caused by the global financial crisis. “Qantas, like many other international airlines has experienced reduced demand in premium cabins,” spokesman Rob Gurney said in a statement. “We have temporarily taken our first-class offering off our San Francisco, Buenos Aires and Melbourne-Hong Kong-London route and will now be servicing these routes with business, premium economy and economy classes only.” Some customers would now get a first-class seat at business-class prices, a Qantas spokeswoman said.
■CUBA
Havana revises forecast
Cuba is revising its economic growth forecast to 2.4 percent, down from its original projection of 6 percent for the year. Economy Minister Marino Alberto Murrillo says the world financial meltdown has hurt tourism and prices for nickel, a key export. The announcement comes as the government calls for workers to be more productive and to save resources in the face of economic risis. Cuba also is still recovering from the effects of three hurricanes last year. Murrillo was quoted on Sunday by Juventud Rebelde newspaper.
■ELECTRONICS
Philips to buy Saeco
Royal Philips Electronics NV agreed to buy Saeco International Group SpA, an Italian maker of espresso machines that’s controlled by PAI Partners. The transaction is subject to Philips reaching a final agreement with banks with which Saeco has outstanding credit obligations, Philips said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. No financial details were disclosed.
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