■ Electronics
Carriers reject iPod phone
Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless are unwilling to support an iPod mobile phone Apple Computer Inc and Motorola Inc are developing, Business Week reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The carriers are reluctant to support a phone that would let customers download music from their personal computers rather than purchase songs through their wireless service providers, the magazine reported on its Web site. Motorola delayed a planned unveiling of the iPod phone at a cellular industry conference in New Orleans this month because of lack of industry support for the handset, Business Week said, citing the unidentified people.
■ Automakers
Nissan, Audi clash over `Q'
Nissan Motor Corp said Friday its US unit has sued Audi AG over the alleged breach by the German carmaker of the copyright for the registered letter "Q" which Audi uses for its new sport utility vehicles. Nissan North America has used "Q" as the registered trademark for its luxury Infinity vehicles since 1989, according to Mia Nielsen, spokeswoman for Nissan. "Nissan North America filed a lawsuit at the US district court in Michigan so as to protect the company's rights over the letter `Q,'" Nielsen said. "We are seeking to bar Audi from using any names that could infringe on Nissan's right over the letter `Q,'" she added. Nissan said Audi's use of the Q5 and Q7 trademarks for its new SUVs might cause confusion among consumers.
■ Railways
Seibu denies buyout offer
Seibu Railway, the scandal-hit Japanese firm, yesterday denied a report that US investment bank Goldman Sachs has offered to buy it for about ¥900 billion (US$8.5 billion). "We have not officially nor informally received such an offer from Goldman Sachs," a Seibu Railway spokesman said. Goldman Sachs spokesman Orlando Camargo also issued a statement dismissing the report. "Goldman Sachs has not proposed to acquire Seibu Railway Group as has been reported today in the media," he said. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said Goldman Sachs had proposed purchasing Seibu Railway shares held by the group's core company Kokudo and taking over Kokudo's debt obligations. Seibu was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December in the wake of the scandal which saw its former head, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, once dubbed the world's richest man, charged with falsifying financial statements to conceal his family's control of the company.
■ Macroeconomics
Seoul says it won't lift rates
South Korea's top economics minister said yesterday that this week's latest US interest rate hike would not be followed here as the country's economy is still only on the path to recovery. "The United States raised interest rates because of inflation jitters. However, our economy is still at a stage where signs of recovery are beginning to appear," said Han Duck-Soo, minister of finance and economy. "Therefore, it is difficult to see any linkage between the US interest rate hike and our economy," he said at a meeting of economic policy makers. He noted that inflationary pressures were still modest in South Korea given the low demand. The strength of the South Korean won also makes the prices of imported goods cheaper given the won's appreciation against the dollars, he said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
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