■ Automobiles
Phantom's value ghostly
Depreciation is a fact of life for any new car owner, but purchasers of the super-luxury Rolls-Royce Phan-tom could be in for a shock -- it sheds value at a rate of ?910 (US$1,700 ) every week. According to a specialist car valuation guide for British motor dealers, the Phantom loses more than half its whopping ?252,000 purchase price in three years, the Financial Times said. The calculation by the Glass's Guide publication is an estimate, the paper said, given that no examples of the Phantom, a large, powerful and exceed-ingly luxurious four-door saloon, have been sold in Britain as yet.
■ Aviation
Beijing buys Airbus A330s
China signed a contract to buy US$2 billion worth of Airbus passenger planes and a French-made TV satellite yesterday, the last full day of an official visit to France by Deputy Prime Minister Zeng Peiyan (曾培炎). At a ceremony hosted by Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, The head of China Eastern Airlines signed a firm order for 20 Airbus A330-200s with an option on a further 10 of the wide-bodied jets. The head of Chinese satellite operator Chinasat also signed an order for a TV satellite from French technology group Alcatel. Other deals signed included a technology-transfer accord for high-speed electric trains between Alstom and China's CNR Datong Electric Locomotive Co as well as research and cooperation agreements for Chinese nuclear power plants. Zeng visited Airbus' headquarters in southern France on Thursday and also visited a factory belonging to Alstom, the maker of high-speed TGV trains. Zeng was to meet with President Jacques Chirac later yesterday before returning home today.
■ Economy
Japan sees 13-year CCI high
Sentiment by Japanese consumers last month hit the highest level since September 1991, the Cabi-net office said yesterday. The unadjusted consumer confidence index for nationwide households, excluding single-person households, rose 2.9 points from April to 48.3, marking the highest reading since September 1991's 48.5 points. The index is cal-culated by assigning points on the basis of whether consumers believe their sentiment in four categories -- employment, overall livelihood, income growth and inclination to purchase durable goods -- in the coming six months will "improve," "improve some-what," "remain unchanged," "deteriorate somewhat" or "deteriorate."
■ Automobiles
Japan seeks fine
Japan's transport ministry yesterday applied to a Tokyo court to fine scandal-plagued Mitsubishi Motors for failing to recall trucks to fix a clutch defect that led to a fatal accident. The filing with the Tokyo District Court is the latest bad news to hit the automaker, whose sales are plummeting, after its former president and five other executives were arrested for the cover-up on Thursday. The court is to determine what penalty may apply, up to a legal limit of ?200,000 (US$1,820) against Mitsubishi Motors Corp, ministry official Masami Morita said. "The company did not issue a recall even while repairing vehicles for what it knew was a defect," Morita said. Transport "This was a deadly weapon on wheels," Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said. "The accident could have been prevented."
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
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
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