In Thursday's Asia papers

12 March 2009 01:00  [Source: ICIS news]

ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan

Front page

Ex-spy to abductee's son: Mother is alive

Former North Korean spy Kim Hyon Hui said Wednesday she believes Japanese abductee Yaeko Taguchi is still alive, bringing hope to the missing woman's son and family members of others taken to North Korea.

Business & Industry

No new updates.

CHINA DAILY, China

Front page

'Media must be objective about Tibet'

The Western view of Tibet is colored largely because of cross-cultural misunderstandings, which the media must bridge, a top official has said.

Largest patrol ship sets sail for tough task

China's biggest and fastest fishery patrol ship set off for an "arduous" mission in the country's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea from Guangzhou on Tuesday.

Business & Industry

Shougang in talks to buy Guiyang Special Steel

Shougang Group, China's sixth largest steel maker, is in talks to buy Guiyang Special Steel Co Ltd, Shougang Chairman Zhu Jimin said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress.

Exports see biggest drop in a decade

China's foreign trade volume shrank sharply in February, according to figures released by the General Administration of Customs yesterday.

TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan

Front page

Taiwan ‘driving Chinese military goals’

US National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told a congressional hearing that “preparations for a Taiwan conflict” still drive the modernization goals of the Chinese military and that the recent naval incidents in the South China Sea were part of a plan by Beijing to expand its influence.

Golf ace mulls quitting Taiwan following snub

Top women’s golfer Yani Tseng is mulling switching her allegiance away from Taiwan because she is unhappy about the government’s neglect of the sport.

Business & Industry

Powerchip may unveil DRAM proposal

Powerchip Semiconductor Corp, the nation’s biggest computer memory chipmaker, yesterday said it may unveil its own industry consolidation plan with Japanese partner Elpida Memory Inc as early as next week.

FSC head supports fees for smaller savings accounts

Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) chairman Sean Chen yesterday voiced support for local banks to supplement revenues by charging maintenance fees on savings accounts with low balances.

KOREA HERALD, South Korea

Front page

N.K. ups ante over 'space-launch vehicle'

North Korea vowed yesterday to take "every necessary measure" to defend its sovereignty, as it continued preparations to launch what it claims is a satellite during an ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drill.

Ex-spy meets Japan abductee's family

Kim Hyon-hui, a former North Korean terrorist convicted of bombing a Korean Air jet and killing 115 aboard in 1987, yesterday met with relatives of a Japanese woman who was abducted 30 years ago by Pyongyang and forced to train agents.

Business & Industry

More social services jobs for the poor

The government said yesterday it would create more social services jobs to help the underprivileged ride out the deepening economic slump.

BJFEZ head calls for selective, intensive support

Kim Moon-hee, commissioner of Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority, said that since its establishment in 2004, the BJFEZ has signed memoranda of understanding for a combined $5.17 billion in foreign direct investment and joint investment by Korean and foreign firms, the largest among the nation's six FEZs.

NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia

Front page

Khir: Bid to derail my campaign

Umno youth chief aspirant Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said there were attempts to sabotage him by getting him disqualified for the contest.

ZAINUL ARIFIN A relief to see focus on economy

EXCESSIVE, round-the-clock politicking has clouded our sense of urgency on the economy, but hopefully the RM60 billion stimulus plan would have a way of shouting down the rhetoric of desperate politics, as it should be.

Business & Industry

Wake-up call for Malaysian palm oil

Malaysia needs to buck up and be more innovative in the palm oil industry as more countries are expected to emerge as rivals, a top industry player says.

Govt to pay RM4.03b for Johor water assets

Government-owned Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd will also assume the concessionaire's liabilities of RM3.18 billion

BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore

Front page

Fundamentals offer little cheer for China-based firms

IT'S not just accounting issues and forced sales of pledged shares that are affecting sentiment towards China-based companies listed in Singapore - fundamentals too appear to play a part in the gloom facing many of these so-called S-chips.

Airfares dive to scoop up passengers

Airfares are coming down to earth from last year's heights as airlines strive to stimulate travel demand by offering travellers plenty incentive to snag a great deal.

Business & Industry

US economy may need more money: Pelosi

The US government may have to spend even more money to shore up the nation's ailing economy, on top of the more than US$1.6 trillion so far approved by Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Bernanke calls for change in accounting standards

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday advocated changing accounting methods that he said have exacerbated the financial crisis.

BANGKOK POST, Thailand

Front page

Ministers at odds over Don Mueang

Economic ministers have given their tacit approval to Thai Airways International ending its domestic flights out of Don Mueang but remain at odds over the future of the old airport.

Suthep dares miffed officials to complain

Deputy Interior Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has challenged officials upset by the Interior Ministry's reshuffle to file a complaint with the Civil Service Commission or the Administrative Court.

Business & Industry

Tax revenue falls 16.4% under goal

Taxes collected over the first five months of the government's fiscal year missed the target by 16.4%, with 451.53 billion baht received, according to Somchai Sujjapongse, the director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office.

JAKARTA POST, Indonesia

Front page

Police to receive pay rise starting next month: Chief

Starting next month, police officers will enjoy a significant increase in their salary aimed at boosting their performance serving the public.

Board of governors `approved' funds for House members

A former Bank Indonesia official testified Tuesday that the central bank's board of governors approved the distribution of Rp 100 billion (US$8.3 million) to provide legal assistance for five former BI senior officials and to speed up the amendment of a law affecting the bank.

Business & Industry

Securities houses ask regulators for relief from transaction charges and VAT

Securities companies are requesting stock market regulators and the government to consider cutting transaction fees and taxes to help them stay afloat after being hit increasingly hard in recent months by the negative impact on trading of the deepening global economic crisis.

Adidas' supplier faces bankruptcy suit

The local supplier of Adidas shoes PT Prima Inreksa Industries (PII) is facing bankruptcy litigation for failing to pay debts worth more than US$37 million.

By: Staff Reporter
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