■ PHOTOGRAPHY
Pentax, Hoya deal on hold
Japanese camera maker Pentax Corp said yesterday that it has scrapped a plan to merge with optical glass manufacturer Hoya Corp as its president resigned amid an apparent boardroom rift over the deal. Pentax will shelve the planned merger for now because of the situation within the company and the views of shareholders, but will keep studying the possibility of a tie-up with Hoya, Pentax said in a statement. Pentax also said its president Fumio Urano, 63, had stepped down and board member Takashi Watanuki, 54, will replace him.
■ FAST FOOD
McDonald's, KFC cleared
McDonald's and KFC are allowing union branches in their China outlets, in a nod to the country's state-sanctioned labor federation, while labor officials in Shanghai said yesterday that a probe cleared the companies of any labor violations in that city. McDonald's China began planning to set up unions in Guangdong Province early this year and will "move on step by step," the company said. Yum Brands Inc, operator of KFC and Pizza Hut, also said it is allowing most of its subsidiaries to join the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the government-affiliated umbrella organization for all labor groups in China.
■ INTERNET
Addicts face penalties
China's growing band of young Internet gamers will face virtual penalties if they stay online for more than three hours, under a new set of rules to combat cyber addiction published yesterday. In the latest measure to combat the problem, eight government departments have issued new rules that will force Internet gaming companies and operators to install and run "anti-addiction" software, the China Daily reported. The new rules will come into force on Sunday, with games to be closed down from July 16 if they are not installed with the anti-addiction software, the China Daily said.
■ BIOTECHNOLOGY
India expanding share
Indian biotechnology firms are set to win a bigger share of the world market for drugs and vaccines, perhaps mimicking the success of Indian information technology firms, a study said on Monday. "India is innovating its way out of poverty and ill health," said Peter Singer of the McLaughlin-Rotman Center for Global Health in Toronto, Canada, of the report about 21 Indian biotechnology companies. The study, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, said that India had to take steps to ensure a continued focus on treating illnesses at home, ranging from tuberculosis to malaria, even while it sought to expand biotech industry exports.
■ TELECOM
Nokia, Qualcomm pact over
A licensing agreement between Nokia Corp and Qualcomm Inc expired yesterday, potentially heralding a new wave of lawsuits between the wireless industry leaders. The high-stakes dispute centers on royalties for a standard known as wideband CDMA, which is growing quickly in Europe and elsewhere. Qualcomm, the world's No. 2 chipmaker for mobile phones and licenses its technology patents, wants to renew terms of a 2001 licensing pact. Nokia, the world's largest handset maker, wants to reduce payments to Qualcomm. The dispute is unlikely to affect users, Nokia spokesman William Plummer said.
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
MISSILE MISSION: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said it does not make policy, but would be glad to obtain certification to assemble the missiles The Ministry of National Defense-affiliated Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is in the process of getting certified to assemble an additional 1,985 Stinger missiles on top of those from US arms sales, a senior defense official said yesterday. Washington is to send a team to Taiwan to evaluate the institute’s manufacturing capabilities and information security, said the official, who commented on condition of anonymity. The ministry initially bought 500 missiles for the army and navy, but later increased the order to 2,485 in response to an increase in Beijing’s military activities around the nation, and to meet the army’s urgent need
RSS