■ Computers
Dell under investigation
Dell Inc said US federal regulators have begun a formal investigation into the computer giant, which had been part of an informal inquiry since August. Dell also said it was postponing the release of its third quarter earnings report -- scheduled for yesterday after markets closed -- until sometime later in the month. The company said on Wednesday the earnings report delay was unrelated to the widening Securities and Exchange Commission probe. A spokesman said Dell did not know what the SEC was specifically investigating. In a press release, Dell said the delay was due to the "level of complexity the company is facing in the preparation of its preliminary results."
■ Software
Office Live launched in US
Microsoft launched its Office Live suite of online business software in the US on Wednesday and said it would release test versions in Europe and Japan next week. Internet-based Office Live applications geared to small businesses were available in a free "Basics" version and in an upgraded "Essentials" package costing US$19.95 monthly and a "Premium" version for US$39.95. Free beta, or trial, versions of Office Live would be available in France, Britain, Germany and Japan on Tuesday, Microsoft said. The Redmond, Washington, software giant billed the suite of software as a tool for businesses to create Web sites, attract customers and manage their affairs.
■ Energy
Enron executive sentenced
Richard Causey, the last of the top Enron Corp executives to learn his punishment, was sentenced on Wednesday to five-and-a-half years in prison for his role in one of the biggest corporate scandals in US history. The former chief accounting officer pleaded guilty in December to securities fraud two weeks before he was to be tried along with Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former chief executive Jeffrey Skilling on conspiracy, fraud and other charges related to the company's collapse. Causey also agreed to fork over US$1.25 million to the government and forfeited a claim to about US$250,000 in deferred compensation as part of his plea deal. Unlike others at Enron, Causey didn't skim millions of dollars for himself from shady deals.
■ Pharmaceuticals
Merck outsourcing R&D
Merck & Co has agreed to outsource some of its drug research work to India's Advinus Therapeutics in a deal that is expected to yield up to US$150 million for the Indian company in the first year. The Indian firm, which is owned by the Tata Group, will collaborate with Merck on R&D of drugs for such metabolic disorders as diabetes, obesity and hypertension, said Rashmi Barbhaiya, managing director of Advinus. He said Merck would retain the right to take the most promising candidates into commercial development.
■ Economy
Japanese get record raises
Workers in Japan are getting record-high bonuses, an average of ¥868,932 (US$7,370), a survey of major companies by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun showed. Bonus amounts rose an average of 1.97 percent from last year, according to the business newspaper's survey of 197 companies released yesterday. The amount of winter bonus pay for workers this year beat a previous record set in 1997 of ¥807,188.
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
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
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
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