In Wednesday's Asia papers

Front page

Fukuda offers apology to hepatitis C patients

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met Tuesday with plaintiffs who sued the state and drug makers over their infection of hepatitis C through tainted blood products to apologize for the government's delay in helping them.

Fukuda offers uniform relief for hepatitis sufferers

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda pledged Sunday to enact legislation to provide blanket relief measures for people infected with hepatitis C through tainted blood products.

Business & Industry

(No new updates)

China Daily, China

Front page

Land loss threatens food safety - minister

The country's food security and social stability will be threatened if arable land shrinks any further, Land and Resources Minister Xu Shaoshi warned.

Middle class does not feel rich - poll

China's middle class may be booming, but a majority said they do not feel so wealthy, with only 12.7% said they are living a middle-class life.

Business & Industry

Investors' results mixed in 2007, optimistism remains
Just over half, or 51.36%, of all stock investors showed no gains from China's bull market, while 48.6% gained more than 10% this year.

Copper, zinc futures rise
Copper and zinc futures in Shanghai jumped to the daily allowable limits Tuesday, triggered by falling inventory and rising expectations of robust demand in 2008.

Taipei Times, Taiwan

Front page

Ma camp agrees to hold debate

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh Tuesday challenged his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival, Ma Ying-jeou to a series of debates, which he said are long overdue.

Three detained in Mauritania

Three Mauritanians were arrested late on Monday after gunmen shot dead four French tourists, including two children, and badly wounded a fifth in southern Mauritania, a security official said.

Business & Industry

CDIC plans free bank insurance

The state-run Central Deposit Insurance (CDIC) aims to offer insurance coverage to banks that are performing well at no cost after the CDIC's funds reach New Taiwan dollar (NT$) 200bn ($6.15bn).

TAIEX stocks up 0.39% on stronger Wall Street shares

Taiwan share prices closed 0.39% higher Tuesday, as investors were encouraged by Wall Street's strong showing overnight on news that Merrill Lynch will receive up to $6.2bn from two investment groups, dealers said.

Korea Herald, South Korea

Front page

University chief to head transition committee

President-elect Lee Myung-bak Tuesday appointed a well-known university reformer to lead his transition committee before his 25 Feb inauguration.

Lee seeks to strengthen U.S. alliance

Lee Myung-bak's first message as president-elect was that relations between South Korea and the United States will be reshaped after he takes office in February.

Business & Industry

Lee likely to speed up stalled Korea-Japan free trade talks

The talks regarding a free trade deal between Japan and Korea, which have been stalled for more than three years, have a good chance of being revived by the incoming conservative government, according to experts.

Kangwon Land poised for even bigger growth in 2008

Business is booming at Kangwon Land, the operator of the only casino where Koreans can legally gamble.

KL stocks seen extending rally today
The market will remain in the positive territory going into the new year even though the volume is getting thinner and thinner, a dealer says

Affin Sec upbeat on car-related firms
The research house has given an 'Add' call to Proton which is expected to give up to 15% total return in the next one year.

Business Times, Singapore

Front page

 

S'pore's hot new export - governance expertise

Some are known to the public but others toiled, often unknown, to help build modern Singapore. Now, they have been recalled from retirement to help shape emerging economies.

 

Goldman CEO gets record $68m bonus

Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs Group chief executive officer, claimed a $67.9m bonus, after delivering a record profit amid the sub-prime market collapse.

 

Business & Industry

 

Christmas makes its Orchard Road splash

Nothing symbolised the mood of the season quite like Orchard Road.

 

Temasek raises Stanchart stake to 18%

Temasek Holdings, the biggest shareholder in Standard Chartered Plc, has increased its stake in the UK bank by one percentage point to 18%, helping it boost banking investments in its Singapore dollar (S$) 100bn ($68.8bn) portfolio.

 

Bangkok Post, Thailand

Front page

 

Thaksin vows to return

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced Tuesday that he would return to Thailand, possibly within weeks, after the victory of his allies in weekend elections.

 

PPP 'will rule'

People Power party is confident it can form a coalition government from the plurality it won in Sunday's election, the PPP secretary general said on Monday.

 

Business & Industry

 

Eastern Thailand headed for water shortage in five years

Eastern Thailand may face water shortages within five years unless additional resources can be made available to meet growing demand, says Chakramon Phasukvanich, the permanent secretary for the Industry Ministry.

 

Investors applaud election result

Thai stocks surged 3.65% Tuesday as investors welcomed Sunday's successful polling results even as it remains uncertain who will form the next government. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index closed at 843.28 points, up 29.68 points, in trade worth baht (Bt) 19.31bn ($638.3m). Energy stocks jumped 5.31%, bank shares rose 3.69% and information and communication technology stocks gained 5.78%.

 

Jakarta Post, Indonesia

Front page

 

Farmers told to watch the weather closely
The government has warned farmers of extreme weather events in regards to climate change. This is the second article in a series of six and focuses on the government's action plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the agricultural sector.

 

Counseling needed for domestic violence
Just as victims of domestic violence require post-trauma counseling to heal, experts say psychotherapists need to also reach out to perpetrators to reduce the number of cases.

 

Business & Industry

 

Indorama to buy Eastman's plants for $330m
Indonesia's Indorama Group will take over coating, plastics and chemical maker Eastman Chemical’s two European plants for about $330m, Associated Press reported Friday.

 

Fluidcon to export road blockers to Middle East
PT Fluidcon Jaya, a consulting company for the mining, and oil and gas industries, as well as manufacturer of road blockers and oil and gas-related equipment, is set to export its latest product to several countries next year.

 

($1= NT$32.51/S$1.45/Bt30.25)

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

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