In Thursday's Asia Papers

15 May 2008 02:00  [Source: ICIS news]

ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan

Front page

 

JOC, others rush to help China in its hour of need

With the Beijing Olympics less than three months away, groups around Japan are rallying to help victims of Monday's devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province

 

Business & Industry

 

No new updates.

 

CHINA DAILY, China

Front page

 

National death toll rises to 14,866 two days after quake

Rescuers were Tuesday night racing against time to find survivors a day after the strongest quake to hit China in 32 years jolted southwestern Sichuan province, demolishing buildings and trapping tens of thousands beneath the rubble.

 

Food prices down for fifth straight week

The price of food in major cities has fallen for the past five weeks in a row, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.Of the 58 food items monitored last week in 36 principal cities, 31 have seen their prices fall, while 22 have become more expensive, the ministry said.

 

Business & Industry

 

No new updates.

 

TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan

Front page

 

Over 50,000 dead or missing in China

More than 50,000 people are dead, missing or buried under rubble after China's devastating earthquake, officials said yesterday as the full horror of the disaster began to emerge.

 

Two Taiwanese reported dead, 14 remain missing

Two Taiwanese, including a three-year-old boy, were yesterday repor­ted killed following the devastating earthquake in southwest China. At press time last night, 14 Taiwanese tourists remained unreachable by phone

 

Business & Industry

 

Quake, closures hurt tourism

Local travel agencies may face up to NT$1.2 billion (US$387 million) in losses in the coming year from the cancelation of trips to earthquake-hit Jiuzhaigou in China’s Sichuan Province, although the disaster’s full impact on the industry remains to be seen, travel agencies said yesterday.

 

Piracy rate falls to 40%, study says

Taiwan’s software piracy rate fell 1 percentage point to a historical low last year because of growing awareness of intellectual property protection and the government’s crackdown on illegal PC software use, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) said in a study released yesterday.

 

KOREA HERALD, South Korea

Front page

 

Seoul delays resuming U.S. beef imports

Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun said yesterday that the government would delay its announcement of the terms regarding the resumption of U.S. beef imports, in light of the vehement protests from opposition parties and civic groups.

 

Business & Industry

 

Samsung Electronics CEO Yun steps down

Yun Jong-yong, CEO and vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., stepped down yesterday after 12 years at the helm of the global electronics giant.

 

State property developers may be integrated

The Korea Land Corp. and the Korea National Housing Corp., the state-run real estate developers, are likely to be consolidated, the Land Ministry said yesterday.

 

NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia

Front page

 

Those who bait others are 'political prostitutes'

Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal has come out strongly to condemn political crossovers as immoral.

 

'Opposition offered us millions to switch camps'

Sabah backbenchers yesterday said they were approached with incentives of cash and positions to jump ship, as rumours swirled in Dewan Rakyat of impending defections to the Pakatan Rakyat camp.

 

Business & Industry 

 

Boustead Properties poised to go private

CONGLOMERATE Boustead Holdings Bhd - which has investments in the financial, plantation, property and shipping sectors - plans to make a buyout offer for its property arm.

 

Maybank Q3 profit slips to RM759m

MALAYAN Banking Bhd's (Maybank) third quarter net profit fell marginally compared to the corresponding quarter a year ago, because of slower growth in non-interest income.

 

BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore

Front page

 

Cost of disaster seen exceeding US$20b

The cost of the devastating earthquake in China, which killed more than 15,000 people, is likely to exceed US$20 billion, according to leading disaster modelling firm AIR Worldwide.

 

$1.1b govt infocomm pie up for grabs this year

Infocomm vendors in Singapore can expect a $1.14 billion government procurement bonanza this year. That is the estimated total value of new IT-related tenders expected to be called by the public sector this fiscal year.

 

Business & Industry

 

Global economy will not recover before 2009: IMF

The International Monetary Fund does not expect the global economy to recover before next year, its chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said yesterday.

 

Govt ready to trade palm oil for rice to stop food crisis

Malaysia is prepared to offer palm oil in exchange for rice to any rice-exporting country as part of efforts to stabilise domestic supply, a Cabinet minister here said.

 

BANGKOK POST, Thailand

Front page

 

Trying to help

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the Burmese government has still not done enough to let in foreign aid, and called on world leaders to unite in a push for "radical change" to speed up critical help. Burmese junta leaders refuse to even speak to the UN chief

 

ASC legality questioned

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to rule on the lottery case against the former Thai Rak Thai cabinet. Instead, it asked the Constitution Court to rule on whether the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), set up to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption by the Thaksin Shinawatra government, is a legal body.

 

Business & Industry

 

Government considers longer leasehold terms

The government is considering allowing greater foreign ownership in property firms and extending leasehold periods beyond 30 years to stimulate the business, according to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee. The amendment would stimulate market segments that have been hit by sluggish demand, he said yesterday.

 

Thailand climbs competitiveness table

Thailand has moved up six places, to 27th from 33rd, in the annual competitiveness rankings compiled by the Swiss-based Institute of Management Development (IMD). The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2008 noted improvements over the past year in the country's rankings in all key categories (see table), although infrastructure remains a weak point with rankings significantly lower than in other sectors.

 

JAKARTA POST, Indonesia

Front page

 

'Indonesia Street' to open in Shanghai

China and India gain popularity through the existence of "Chinatowns" and "Little Indias" all over the world. Now, Indonesia is set to follow suit by opening a permanent market in Shanghai on May 22.

 

West Java city outlaws Ahmadiyah sect

Cimahi municipality in West Java has followed Sukabumi and Kuningan regencies in banning the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah, despite no formal ban from the central government.

 

Business & Industry

 

No new updates.

By: Staff Reporter
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