■ US spending
Bush gets US$79 billion
The US Congress on Saturday sent President George W. Bush a US$79 billion package to pay for conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, reward allies such as Turkey, bolster anti-terrorism and help struggling airlines. The huge bill, which Congress took up at the start of the war in Iraq and pushed through in just three weeks, gives Bush all the money he sought for the war, but curbs the free rein he wanted over most of the funds. Rushing to get the money to Bush before starting Congress' two-week spring recess, the House of Representatives passed the measure by a voice vote in a rare weekend session. The Senate agreed late on Friday to approve the measure even while House-Senate negotiators were working out its details and many lawmakers were headed to airports. "This bill began with the administration asking for a series of blank checks totaling almost US$70 billion," said Representative David Obey of Wisconsin, top House Appropriations Committee Democrat. The final measure, he said, "reintroduces them to the concept of checks and balances."
■ Dynegy
Losses restated to SEC
Dynegy Inc, a Houston-based power producer and natural-gas processor, said a review of its accounts shows last year's loss was US$2.74 billion rather than the US$2.8 billion the company had previously reported. The loss was equivalent to US$8.38 a share, compared with net income of US$406 million, or US$1.07 a share, in 2001, Dynegy said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing was made after auditor Pricewaterhouse-Coopers completed a review of Dynegy's financial statements back to 1999. Dynegy announced in June it had asked PWC to replace Arthur Andersen LLP as its auditor. The review of the financial statements began last July. In a separate filing, Dynegy said its net income for 1999, 2000 and 2001 totaled US$979 million, compared with US$1.03 billion reported in a February filing.
■ Video games
Game Boy improved
Nintendo's new mobile game device Game Boy Advance SP comes with an improved display capability. Unusual advertising measures reflected Nintendo's hope of using the Game Boy Advance launch in Europe to boost to its GameCube business: the first 400,000 mobile console buyers were promised a coupon worth 50 euros toward the purchase of a GameCube. The GameCube is the Japanese game manufacturer's direct competitor to Microsoft's Xbox console. The market leader remains Sony and its Playstation2.
■ Saga
Co-founder plans to quit
Graham Wylie, one of the founders of Sage Group Plc, said he plans to leave the UK's largest maker of accounting software, the London-based Times reported, citing the company. Wylie, who in his early 40s is worth £146 million (US$230 million), has no plans to sell the 8.5 percent stake that makes him Sage's largest shareholder, the Telegraph said. He was the company's UK managing director. "He's about to get married, he's just bought a house and he does a lot of charity work," said Michael Jackson, Sage's chairman, the Times reported. Wylie co-founded the company when he was studying statistics and computing at Newcastle University, the paper said.
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
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