In Thursday Asia papers

30 April 2009 02:00  [Source: ICIS news]

ASAHI SHIMBUN, Japan

Front page

Aso, Wen agree wider domestic demand vital
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday agreed on the importance of the two nations making every effort to expand domestic demand in response to the global economic crisis

Swine flu imperils earnings of exporters, tour industry
The swine flu outbreak could deal a further blow to Japan's already ailing economy by slowing exports and cutting air travel, economists and company executives said.

Business & Industry

No new updates.

CHINA DAILY, China

Front page

WHO: Flu threatening to become pandemic
Global health authorities warned Wednesday that swine flu was threatening to bloom into a pandemic and declared a Phase 5 outbreak, the second-highest on its threat scale.

Reports on disease origin 'groundless'
The Chinese government rejected as "groundless" foreign reports labeling China as the origin of the swine flu outbreak.

Business & Industry

Trade team to Europe before June
The government will send an investment and procurement delegation to Europe during the first half of this year, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said.

Rule issued on release of financial info
The authorities yesterday issued a regulation on the release of financial information in China by foreign organizations.

TAIPEI TIMES, Taiwan

Front page

WHO invites ‘Chinese Taipei’ to WHA
Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan said an invitation to attend the WHA meeting as an observer without voting rights was a breakthrough.

FBI agents arrest Taiwanese financier Danny Pang
Whether the 16,000 local investors who had bought US$700 million in PEM Group products would get their money back remained uncertain yesterday

Business & Industry

UMC to buy Chinese chipmaker
Following three quarters of losses, the company said it would spend US$285 million to buy the remaining 85 percent of He Jian that it does not own

Acer targeting smartphone market
Reporting a 31.4 percent decline in first-quarter profits, the firm took a sharp departure from previous statements on dominating the PC market

KOREA HERALD, South Korea

Front page

Ex-President Roh heads for Seoul to face probe
Former President Roh Moo-hyun, engulfed in an escalating corruption scandal, said Thursday he felt deeply "ashamed and sorry" for disappointing the nation, as he left his home in a remote village in Gimhae, near Busan, to face prosecutors' questioning over the allegations of his bribery in Seoul, according to Yonhap News.

Falling imports drive current account surplus
The current account surplus widened to a monthly record of $6.65 billion in March as imports dropped faster than exports on a weak won and sluggish domestic demand, the central bank said yesterday. However, the news is not all that sweet for Korea, experts said, as the surplus was driven by the contraction of imports greater than exports, not by the growth of exports exceeding that of imports.

Business & Industry

Hyundai Heavy plans wireless shipyard
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. plans to install a wireless broadband network, called WiBro, at its dockyard, as part of its ambitious "digital shipyard" project, the Ulsan-based firm said yesterday.

No pork import ban without proof
Korea will not ban imports of pork unless there emerges convincing scientific evidence that the recent flu outbreak came from pigs, the nation's chief agricultural policymaker said yesterday.

NEW STRAITS TIMES, Malaysia

Front page

Signs that show Malaysia on human trafficking route
The drowning incident off Pengerang in Johor and the arrest of 33 foreigners off Port Klang have confirmed suspicions that Malaysia is a transit point for human trafficking syndicates.

Ong to port: Release PKFZ audit
Port Klang chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng has been given one week to make public an audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

Business & Industry

Mega plans for the north
I'DA World Group has proposed to build a highway and an oil and gas pipeline, an integrated development in Tumpat and a resort city in Pasir Mas, Kelantan

Malaysia holds key interest rate at 2pc
Bank Negara says the current assessment is that the accumulated monetary policy measures are sufficient to provide support to domestic demand

BUSINESS TIMES, Singapore

Front page

Obama says clearing away 'wreckage' of recession
President Barack Obama told Americans on Wednesday his administration was working to 'clear away the wreckage' of recession as he assessed his first 100 days in office and promised to keep up the whirlwind pace.

Malaysia: KLCI starts higher
Malaysian shares started on Thursday with a 0.7 per cent rise, tracking Wall Street's jump, although gains would be capped by concerns about the swine flu outbreak.

Business & Industry

Chrysler debt offer raised, holdouts targeted
The US Treasury raised its offer by US$250 million in debt restructuring talks with Chrysler LLC lenders on Wednesday as part of a final push to win over lenders holding out for better terms and avoid bankruptcy, two people person briefed on the closed-door talks said.

Japan output picks up, BOJ seen holding fire
Japan's industrial output rose twice as fast as expected in March, the first gain in six months, in another sign that the plunge in production and exports may be nearing an end.

BANGKOK POST, Thailand

Front page

Don't blame the pigs!
The pigs aren't dying, Mexicans are. So farmers, businessmen and diplomats are arguing that it's hardly fair to call it "swine" flu.

The fugitive, watched
Sources say the Royal Thai Air Force has reportedly twice seen Thaksin Shinawatra's private plane travel to Cambodia, but Cambodia denies it.

Business & Industry

Lime-juice powder an option
Lime prices have been soaring in recent weeks due to lower production because of a lengthy and severe spell of dry weather. Costly limes were even on the agenda at the cabinet meeting this week.

Swine flu fear factor
Airlines and the bacon business on one side and viral treatments and rubber gloves on the other are among sectors in the front line of economic shocks.

JAKARTA POST, Indonesia

Front page

Swine flu hits home in US - now in 11 states
The swine flu outbreak began taking a toll on the U.S. Wednesday, spreading to 11 states and closing schools amid confirmation of the first U.S. death - a Mexican toddler who was visiting Texas with his family.

Business & industry

No new updates

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

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