News Clipping 2011.04.28

1.      Nation split on Ma's Kuokuang retreat

China Post      April 23, 2011

              

The country remains divided over the fate of a proposed petrochemical facility and that of the petrochemical industry as a whole in the country after President Ma Ying-jeou announced his withdrawal of support for the controversial Kuokuang Petrochemical Development Project, yesterday.

While several lawmakers from the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and residents living in the vicinity of the proposed site have expressed disappointment, the country's largest opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is saying the president's belated move has cost the country large sums of money in addition to calling it a calculated gesture in the run-up to the next presidential election.

Environmentalists, on the other hand, have indicated they will accept nothing short of torpedoing the project outright.

Cheng Ru-fen, a KMT lawmaker elected from Changhua County, said her constituents would be disappointed, arguing that locals are in favor of economic development, while those from other areas are against it.

2.      Report: iPhones secretly track their users' locations

CNN     April 21, 2011

(CNN) -- Apple devices appear to be tracking their owners' locations and storing data about people's whereabouts without their knowledge, according to a report posted Wednesday on a site called iPhone Tracker.

The unauthorized surveillance started in June 2010, when the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system was released, according to two researchers who say they discovered a hidden tracking file and posted it out of concern for users.

The researchers have posted a program online that will let any iPhone user see a map of his or her location over time, going back to June, when iOS 4.0 was released.

3.      Massive explosion kills four in Wugu

CAN    Apr 24, 2011

A series of powerful explosions at a incense shop in New Taipei City has left four people dead and 38 injured, New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou Yu-ih said yesterday.

Most of the injured suffered cuts caused by broken glass or bone fractures from being sent flying by the blasts, which occurred in Wugu District on Friday night.

Goods were being unloaded from a truck in front of the shop when the blasts went off, according to an initial investigation by police.

Four houses and seven cars were completely destroyed and houses and cars within a radius of 100m suffered damage, police said.

4.      Gold hits record high above US$1,500

Reuters    April 21, 2011

LONDON/SINGAPORE -- Gold hit record highs above US$1,500 an ounce on Wednesday as fears over the U.S. economic outlook boosted its appeal as a haven from risk, while Asian buyers sought protection from rising inflation.

The threat of a downgrade to the United States' triple-A credit rating this week and fresh worries over eurozone debt fueled fears over the outlook for both the U.S. dollar and the euro.

With the U.S. currency in particular seen as a key driver of gold prices, uncertainty over how the United States will adjust monetary policy after its second round of quantitative easing comes to an end in June is set to keep the metal underpinned.

5.      Greater Taipei, Taichung may see home selling spree: report  

The China Post    April 24, 2011

A house selling spree is likely to emerge among speculative investors in Taipei City, New Taipei City and Taichung City before the new luxury tax bill is put into practice on June 1, thus dragging down home prices in the areas, according to a report released by Pacific Rehouse Co., Ltd.

6.      Flora Expo to end Monday after setting new records

The China Post  April 24, 2011

  

The Taipei International Flora Expo will wind-up its 171-day exhibition tomorrow after setting a spate of new records and attracting over 8.5 million visitors, according to the operation headquarters of the event.

7.      Norio Ohga, former Sony president, dies

BBC      23 April 2011

    

The former president and chairman of Sony, Norio Ohga, who was credited with developing the compact disc, has died aged 81, the company has said.

Ohga, who led the company from 1982 to 1995, died of multiple organ failure in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Sony's chairman, Sir Howard Stringer, said his predecessor's foresight and vision had transformed the company into a global entertainment leader.